KB136819 - Can't Use SQLRetrieve/SQLRequest to Return Over 248 Columns

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use any of the following methods.

Method 1: Using Xlodbc.xla

You cannot return more than 248 columns of data to Microsoft Excel using the Xlodbc.xla macro functions unless you execute two separate queries--one query to return the first 248 columns and another query to return the remaining columns.

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements. Method 2: Using Xlquery.xla

You can use the Microsoft Query add-in to return more than 248 columns. The macro below demonstrates an example.

          Sub GetData()

          Dim ConStr As String
          Dim SQL As String

              'Open the Microsoft Query Add-in
              Workbooks.Open Application.LibraryPath & _
                 "\msquery\xlquery.xla"

              'Define the Connection String and the SQL Query
              ConStr = "DSN=NWind"
              SQL = "Select * from c:\windows\msapps\msquery\test.dbf"

              'Execute the query and return the data to cell A1 on
              'Sheet1--
              'Include the field names and do not store the query on
              'the worksheet
              Run "QueryGetData", ConStr, SQL, False, True, False, _
                  Sheets("Sheet1").Range("A1"), True

          End Sub

Method 3: Using Data Access Objects (DAO) in Microsoft Excel 7.0 and 97

You can use DAO to return more than 248 columns. The macro below demonstrates an example. To use DAO in a Microsoft Excel 7.0 macro, click References on the Tools menu while the module sheet is active and select Microsoft DAO 3.0 Object Library.

To use DAO in a Microsoft Excel 97 macro, click References on the Tools menu in Visual Basic Editor and select Microsoft DAO 3.5 Object Library.

          Sub GetData()

          Dim db as Database
          Dim rs as Recordset

             'Open the dBASE database in the specified directory
             Set db = OpenDatabase("c:\windows\msapps\msquery", False,_
                   False, "dBASE IV;")

             'Create a recordset that contains all of the records in
             'the table Test.dbf
             Set rs = db.OpenRecordset("Select * from Test")

             'Copy the data in the recordset to Sheet1!A2
             Sheets("Sheet1").Range("A2").CopyFromRecordset rs

             'Return the field names in the recordset to row 1
             For I = 0 to rs.Fields.Count -1
                   Sheets("Sheet1").Cells(1,I +1) = rs.Fields(i).Name
               Next

          End Sub

Can't Use SQLRetrieve/SQLRequest to Return Over 248 Columns

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