XL97: Cannot Use Edit Query Button on Sheet With Web Query (158247)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q158247

SYMPTOMS

When you click the "Edit Query" toolbar button on the "External Data" toolbar, you may receive the following error message:
This external data range contains data from a Web query. Web queries cannot be edited
and your only option is to click OK.

CAUSE

You cannot edit Web queries from within Microsoft Excel. The Edit Query button on the External Data toolbar is used to edit queries created in Microsoft Query.

RESOLUTION

To edit your Web query, you need to open the .iqy file you created for the Web query using a text editor like Notepad.

STATUS

This is by design of Microsoft Excel 97.

MORE INFORMATION

Like any other data query in Microsoft Excel, a Web query is a tool to extract information from a Web site and return it back to your worksheet.

A Web query is performed by doing the following:

  1. Create a Web query file (.iqy extension) with the following structure: 
        Type of Query
    Version of Query
    URL
    Post Parameters (not required for "Get" queries)
    Microsoft Office installs several sample Web query files in the \Program Files\Microsoft Office\Queries folder. The following is the text of the "Dow Jones Stocks by PC Quote, Inc.iqy" file in this folder:

    WEB
    1
    http://webservices.pcquote.com/cgi-bin/exceldow.exe?

    NOTE: This is a "Get" query because the fourth line of text is not used.
  2. In Microsoft Excel 97 point to "Get External Data" on the Data menu and then click "Run Web Query."
  3. In the "Run Query" dialog box, locate and select your .iqy file, and then click "Get Data."
  4. Based on the type of Web query file you created, you may have to specify some information for the Web query.
Your query will be performed and, if successful, the data will be returned to the location you specified.

For additional information, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

157482 How to Create Web Query (.iqy) Files

REFERENCES

For more information about Web Queries, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel 97 Help, type the following text

web, queries

and then double-click the selected text to go to the "Get data from a Web source" topic.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/21/2000
Keywords:kberrmsg kbweb KB158247
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