Unknown file type to import

[sdihi]

I get a large, unknown file with no suffix to import to access. I think it's output from an old IBM machine. The file comes in as fixed width, no delimiters. Also, alot of fields which should contain dollar amounts are displaying and importing as 00012345a or 0004321b where the alphabetical character represents a number 0 - 9 . There are also lots of brackets "}" that appear to define some fields.

Can anyone recognize the file type I'm receiving? Also, how can I import to Access 2003 cleanly? Is there another step I could take to get this file cleaned up before I import it?
TIA.

 

[Norie]

Have you tried importing it?

Try changing the filename by adding an extension and going to Get External Data...

By the way do you not have any specification for this file?

 

[sdihi]

Yes. When I imported as a text file the odd fields ( 00012345e, }, etc. came in as they were displayed. I also opened the file with notepad. The file has no extension. When I look at properties all I see is "FILE". I have a very old (10 yrs) file layout, space by space.

 

[Norie]

I have a very old (10 yrs) file layout, space by space.

I think you'll just need to work with that.

By the way the best place to 'clean up' this file is probably in Access using queries.

 

[sdihi]

Thank you for your time. Cleaning it up in Access is what I was hoping not to do.