topic Re: Error Message - trying to join table in Mapping Questions

Error Message - trying to join table

HelenWillis — Wed, 18 May 2016 04:44:12 GMT

I am trying to join an excel table to a layer file and get a message - Failed to connect to database. the user and/or password is invalid. Cannot start your application. The workgroup information file is missing or opened exclusively by another user.

I am on 10.2.2 - table is an .xls table.

I have tried a new .mxd, altenate tables, saved the table to the local drive - all produce the same error message.

This was working on Friday afternoon and Monday - not working 😞

Re: Error Message - trying to join table

curtvprice — Wed, 18 May 2016 04:54:23 GMT

The most common issue here has to do with the naming of the Excel file, and your field names.

File names, avoid spaces and always start with a letter.
Field names should start with a letter and contain ONLY alphanumeric characters (plus _). From years of painful experience, I also recommend that you keep them short (10 characters maximum).

How To Name Things In ArcGIS

Re: Error Message - trying to join table

HelenWillis — Wed, 18 May 2016 05:03:17 GMT

Thanks for your reply Curtis.

All field names are alpha, no more than 10, only have '_', no spaces.

This error is happening with any excel table. I can't join anything !!

Re: Error Message - trying to join table

curtvprice — Wed, 18 May 2016 05:11:45 GMT

If you have an .xlsx file you want to use in ArcGIS but do not have Excel 2007 installed, you will need to install the 2007 Office System Driver. It can be downloaded from the Microsoft Download Center. If you have Microsoft Excel 2010 or no version of Microsoft Excel installed, you must install the 2007 driver before you can use either .xls or .xlsx files.

Understanding how to use Microsoft Excel files in ArcGIS—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop

Re: Error Message - trying to join table

curtvprice — Wed, 18 May 2016 05:14:50 GMT

If you can open the table in ArcMap, but can't join, you may want to use the Copy Rows tool to copy the Excel data to a file geodatabase (this will give it an OBJECTID field). Then try joining to the gdb table.

I generally breathe easier when I get data tables out of excel and into a database of any flavor.

Re: Error Message - trying to join table

HelenWillis — Wed, 18 May 2016 05:18:38 GMT

My IT people did that this morning - installed 2007 driver - I am on 2010, have excel installed. This didn't fix the error.

I have joined this table for varying data layers for years and never had a problem until 2 days ago.

I have not changed passwords or protected anything. It was working on Friday and now it isn't.

Re: Error Message - trying to join table

HelenWillis — Wed, 18 May 2016 05:19:53 GMT

ok - I will try and copy.

I can't even open the tables - the error pops up when I try to add to the .mxd.

I can open the .xls in excel without any problems.

Re: Error Message - trying to join table

curtvprice — Wed, 18 May 2016 05:22:25 GMT

Have you tried Resetting your ArcGIS application profile -- this often helps when things simply stop working right....

Re: Error Message - trying to join table

HelenWillis — Wed, 18 May 2016 05:40:45 GMT

Thanks for your advice Curtis. I have copied the table into the geodatabase and have had success. I didn't even think to do that!!

I have also put in a call to my IT people to reset my application profile. Everything is locked down where I work.

Again - thank you. 🙂

Re: Error Message - trying to join table

curtvprice — Wed, 18 May 2016 05:42:52 GMT

Everything is locked down where I work.

Me too.

Your app profile is in your own user %APPDATA% folder - you own that folder so you can do it yourself.

See the article I wrote for more details.

Re: Error Message - trying to join table

HelenWillis — Wed, 18 May 2016 06:16:48 GMT

I did this reset - individual and then complete - this did not do the trick with the error. 😞

Importing the table has helped me out for the time being.

Thank you for your time. 🙂