Fail to open xlsx table

[IngelaJansson]

I'm failing to open an excel file to Arc Map. I get the error message "essage Failed to connect to database. Underlying database error occurred. Class not registered.". I also tried w really simple xlsx table - field names correct etc. I have installed Office 2016, ArcGIS 10.3 and have operative system Windows 8.1.

Any help much appreciated / Ingela

[ChrisSmith7]

One thing you can try is saving as an .xls - an older file version. ArcGIS plays nicer with this format, I've noticed. You can also save as a flat file (.txt/.csv) - you may need to specify a schema.ini text driver, however. Here's info on that:

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms709353(v=vs.85).aspx

You would typcially need to do this if ArcGIS takes too many liberties in formatting a flat file, such as when you have a data field with padded zeros - ArcGIS would automatically make these numeric, rather than text, but you can force it to use text using the schema.ini driver.

In both cases, you can specify file type in the Excel save options, e.g. as .csv, .xls, .txt, etc.

Also, have a look at this thread:

.XLSX PROBLEM - Failed to Connect to Database - Class Not Registered

You say you have Office 2016 and ArcGIS 10.3 installed - you may still need to install the Office 2007 System Driver...

[IngelaJansson]

Thanks! Ican now open the xls file. Do I still need to install the M. office 2007 driver?? Will that upset anything else?

Thanks / I

[MichaelRobb]

No.

[RichardDaniels]

Note - the Microsoft Office Access database engine 2007 (English) v12.0.4518 is the package you want and it is now located at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=23734.

Rich