import data to update charts

[daniel_d_n_r]

Hi all

Just a query here,
At the moment I havn't started coding but would like an opinion on the best way to go about this task ..as follows.

I have 8 text files that hold data
This data is added to every few days by a program that appends data to the existing file

I would like to import all the data into one excel workbook and the have the data linked to charts that will display the data (the feilds do not change) and they update themselves on import.

one main problem is dealing with the CSV (.dat) files and parsing or ignoring the meta data/headers in the first 2 or 3 rows.

after the headers the data is set out as csv data with columns and headings

any ideas would be appreciated

cheers

[XLGibbs]

You can set up queries in excel that read from the CSV files AND Skip the first x number of rows as needed. Once the import is structured, creating named ranges that can dynamically adjust is relatively easy...as posted
here (http://www.tushar-mehta.com/excel/newsgroups/dynamic_charts/index.html)

[daniel_d_n_r]

thanks for the reply
it was very helpful

cheers

[daniel_d_n_r]

Hi again
when I make the query and try to add feilds I get this error
'object or file is read only'
Thing is the files are not read only?

any ideas

[daniel_d_n_r]

hello all

this method of import just isn't working ,
it seems to ignore date and make it char or nothing in the .ini file
and doesn't ignore the header if it is in csv format too.
any tips on how to simplify this.

is it easier to set up in access?

Im finding this method not actually having any ability at all other than the guess function that really doesnt guess very well all


DO I HAVE YTO EDIT THE INI FILE BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY DOESNT DO WHAT YOU SAY

[daniel_d_n_r]

I HAVE DECIDED MS QUERY IS CRAP,
I WILL READ FROM THE FILES
AND SIMPLY DROP THAT ARRAY INTO EXCEL ON OPEN