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Simon Pearce's avatar
Simon Pearce
Copper Contributor
May 02, 2018
Solved

Excel web query DataFormat.Error "not a valid path"

Hi, 

 

I have a workbook that grabs data from a few online Excel workbooks. This was working fine from when I set it up about six months ago until recently, when it started producing a DataFormat.Error.

 

One of the data sources that my workbook queries is the Reserve Bank of Australia exchange rates in this file: http://www.rba.gov.au/statistics/tables/xls-hist/2014-current.xls

 

This is the error that I get:

 DataFormat.Error: 'C:\statistics\tables\xls-hist\2014-current.xls' is not a valid path. Make sure that the path name is spelled correctly and that you are connected to the server on which the file resides.
Details:
2014-current.xls

 

This used to work just fine with no errors. I've tried on multiple computers with the same issue, and I've tried three other links to publicly available online excel workbooks with the same issue. I've tried adding a new query (by selecting query from workbook or query from web) in a fresh workbook and pasting that link as the source, but I still get the same error.

 

It's weird that the error is referring to a file at C:\ and not the URL that I entered. 

 

I'm using MS Office Professional Plus 2016, Excel version 16.0.4266.1001 64 bit. 

 

Does anyone know how to get around this issue?

 

Thanks in advance, 

 

Simon

Excel 2016
Query
  • SergeiBaklan's avatar
    SergeiBaklan
    May 02, 2018

    It looks like XML schema for your Excel is customized, perhaps that's the reason.

      • SergeiBaklan's avatar
        SergeiBaklan
        MVP
        Apr 16, 2021

        mdalifmondol 

        I'm not sure how may I help, MS Access can't find the file in your Desktop folder. If check by File Explorer are you sure the file is still at this folder?

    • Simon Pearce's avatar
      Simon Pearce
      Copper Contributor
      May 02, 2018

      I also asked a colleague to try from their PC - same issue when starting from scratch and using just the link I provided above from Get & Transform. 

      Perhaps it's an issue with our organisation's systems? 

      • SergeiBaklan's avatar
        SergeiBaklan
        MVP
        May 02, 2018

        It looks like XML schema for your Excel is customized, perhaps that's the reason.

    • Simon Pearce's avatar
      Simon Pearce
      Copper Contributor
      May 02, 2018

      It wasn't working in my attached file. Screenshot of the query editor below showing the error and source.

       
      My file

      When I opened your file and refreshed the query I got the same error again! See screenshot below, after trying to refresh the query.   

      Sergei's file

       

       

       

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