How to Import or link CSV with more than 255 columns in ACCESS?

[Stoorm]

Hello, I have a .csv with more than 255 columns (395 exactly), I only need 3 columns but I cannot manipulate the source file manually, that is, I cannot divide it in two.
The columns are: 131, 208 and 282

I have tried to do it by wizard but Access won't let me do it because it has more than 255 columns.
I have tried a thousand ways with vba but have not been successful.

Is there a way to do it with vba?

 

[jackd]

xenou,

I was concerned with >255 columns, not the rows. My thought was that the file was not normalized. So, by reading as a textstream and outputting appropriate data into proper structures.
Just my $.02

 

[xenou]

That makes sense to me actually. I think it should be possible as well. Normally when you have difficulty reading as a textstream and outputting data, it is either because of a very large amount of data or because of inconsistencies in the data (or both) ... so looking for clues was all.

 

[matthenry]

Microsoft Access has a limit of 255 columns per table. If you attempt to link to an external table that has more than 255 columns, Access will retrieve the first 255 columns only.

With a linked table, you cannot choose which columns are retrieved. If, say, you want to retrieve the 256th column but not the first, you can use a pass-through query instead:

Open your Microsoft Access database.
Create a new Query in Design View. Dismiss the Show Table dialog box.
Choose Pass-Through as the Query type.
Right-click the Query tab, and choose SQL View.
Enter your SQL statement in the Query pane. For example:
SELECT Col1, Col2, Col3 FROM Account
Choose the Run Button. Use the Select Data Source dialog box to choose your ODBC driver data source.

I hope this information answers your query.
Matt Henry