Importing Large Text Files from Excel into Access

[Alaska1]

I have a data file I am importing into MS Access 2010. One of the fields is a large text field. When i import that field into Access the text is getting cut off. How do I get the full text field to import without cutting off?

[alansidman]

Have you tried importing the file into an existing table and for the field you are having issues with format it as a memo field and not a text field. Text fields can only handle 255 characters. Memo fields can handle around 18,000.

[ssanfu]

Actually, an Access 2010 memo field can handle a lot more. I knew about the 65.536 bytes; I didn't know about the size when entering data programmatically

Number of characters in a Memo field (from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ac...010341462.aspx)
65,535 when entering data through the user interface;
1 gigabyte of character storage when entering data programmatically

[alansidman]

Thanks for the update Steve. I was not aware of the new parameters. But, I can't even remember the last time I worked with a memo field. Maybe three or four years.

[Alaska1]

I have a data file I am importing into MS Access 2010. One of the fields is a large text field. When i import that field into Access the text is getting cut off. How do I get the full text field to import without cutting off?

Thank you for your quick response. I will try the memo field. The field was importing as a text field.

[Alaska1]

I have a data file I am importing into MS Access 2010. One of the fields is a large text field. When i import that field into Access the text is getting cut off. How do I get the full text field to import without cutting off?

I setup the field name in access as a memo field but the text is still cutting off at 255.

[alansidman]

Have you tried saving your excel file as a .csv file and importing that. If you do it that way, you have more control over the import specs. When using the wizard to import, click on the advanced button during the process. You will now have the opportunity to specify the field types. Be sure to make this particular field a memo. If this is a regular importation and not a one time event, you can even save the import specifications for future use.