Welcome to the guide to understanding and solving the error "External Table Is Not In The Expected Format" in Microsoft Excel. This guide is intended to help developers troubleshoot and easily solve this frustrating error.
Overview
Usually, when attempting to import an external data source, like a web query or other data table, into Excel, you may experience an error message stating "External Table Is Not In The Expected Format". This indicates that the data link or table being referenced is not compatible with Excel. It's important to troubleshoot this issue quickly so that your work with the data can continue.
Troubleshooting
Follow these steps to troubleshoot the issue and solve the error message:
Start by verifying the source of the data table you're attempting to connect with. Make sure that the source meets the requirements for compatibility with Excel.
Check the file extension of the external data source. Verify that it matches the required format for Excel. The most common file formats for Excel are .xls and .xlsx.
If the file is in plain text format, such as .txt, .csv, or .dat, use Excel to convert the external data into one of the supported formats. To convert the file, open Excel and then select “Data” > “Import External Data” > “Import Data”. Choose the file you want to convert and then select “Properties” in the “Import Data” dialog box. In the “Properties” dialog box, select the “type” you want the file to be converted to and then click “OK”.
- If the file is still not able to be imported, check if any characters need to be escaped or modified in the data source to ensure compatibility with Excel.
FAQ
Q: What file types does Excel support?
A: Excel supports .xls and .xlsx file types for importing and exporting data.
Q: How can I convert my files to the .xls or .xlsx formats?
A: To convert the file, open Excel and then select “Data” > “Import External Data” > “Import Data”. Choose the file you want to convert and then select “Properties” in the “Import Data” dialog box. In the “Properties” dialog box, select the “type” you want the file to be converted to and then click “OK”.