Error: Numeric Field Overflow
We have an MS Excel database file with a field called "Last Name". When the file is created (printed), some of the records show this Error
Why? How can we correct this?
This error may be caused by the database engine scanning a set number (mostly 25) of records to determine the datatype of a column.
The fields that cause the error are -for various reasons- erroneously interpreted as 'double' or 'long', whilst the first records were set to f.i. 'text' as datatype.
The SolutionThe following procedure may solve the issue: (in case the datatype must always be 'text':)
Save the database as .txt file (tab delimited) and re-open this .txt file in MS Excel:
Follow the Text Import Wizard and in step 3 (of 3) set the Column data format to 'text' (in the column(s) where the error happened, or, to prevent the error genericly: for all columns with 'text'data).
Alternatively you can insert a dummy record before the first record where the numbers should be in the database.