Hey all...noob to this forum. Hope you all can help with a sticky app issue.
My client wants the ability to edit a Pipe-delimited file in a grid format within a single-form app. I've tried the following...

1)OLE imbedded Excel instance: "floats" from form, resizes awkwardly,
2)Excel Sheet object (non-OLE): can't figure out how to associate with or manipulate external file with object.
3)DataGrid/Connection combo, using either "OLE Jet" or "ODBC Text Engine" connection to flat file as table: Can read and add, but unable to edit or delete. Message along the lines of "updates/deletes not allowed to linked tables with this ISAM"
4)DSO ActiveX Document Framer: perfect, if it would allow opening of non-XLS files in Excel...no dice on that.

...I'm running out of ideas here. What would you recommend using for direct, full-function editing of a pipe-delimited text file in a grid-type control that plays well within a VB6 form and does not involve purchasing extra 3rd-party tools (Standards committee won't support without 6 months of red tape and "evaluation")?

Ken Allhands
Theory and Practice are identical...in theory...

...almost forgot...also tried Excel Application object...opens up external instance of Excel, and work area must be in-form to meet specs.

thanks in advance for any help...

Ken Allhands
Theory and Practice are identical...in theory...

Hi Ken,

If I understand you correctly, you would like to import data out of a text file, into, for instance Excel.
Here is what I would do.

-Create a new Excel file (I assume using Excel isn't a problem).
-Click on the "record macro" button, and simply do the following: select Data on Toolbar>Import External Data>Import data.
-Select your .txt file and click Open. Follow steps within wizard...
-When done, click on "stop recording macro" button.
-In the VBA screen you should be able to see the code of your macro. Adjust if necessary (VBE opens with Alt+F11).

Here is an example of VBA code created with recording a macro...(NOTE: place the right path and filename in the subroutine here below if using this technique)

Sub Macro1()
Range("A1").Select
With ActiveSheet.QueryTables.Add(Connection:= _
    "TEXT;C:\yourdirectory\yourtextfilename.txt" _
    , Destination:=Range("A1"))
    .Name = "data"
    .FieldNames = True
    .RowNumbers = False
    .FillAdjacentFormulas = False
    .PreserveFormatting = True
    .RefreshOnFileOpen = False
    .RefreshStyle = xlInsertDeleteCells
    .SavePassword = False
    .SaveData = True
    .AdjustColumnWidth = True
    .RefreshPeriod = 0
    .TextFilePromptOnRefresh = False
    .TextFilePlatform = 437
    .TextFileStartRow = 1
    .TextFileParseType = xlDelimited
    .TextFileTextQualifier = xlTextQualifierDoubleQuote
    .TextFileConsecutiveDelimiter = False
    .TextFileTabDelimiter = True
    .TextFileSemicolonDelimiter = False
    .TextFileCommaDelimiter = False
    .TextFileSpaceDelimiter = False
    .TextFileColumnDataTypes = Array(1)
    .TextFileTrailingMinusNumbers = True
    .Refresh BackgroundQuery:=False
End With
End Sub

Hope this helps...