OLE DB or ODBC Error: [DataFormat.Error] External table is not in the expected format...

Question

Hi All,&nbsp;I have been using a pbix for monthly reporting. I add excel files on a monthly basis to a folder and combine them to generate the required figures and chart. Today I got the error message described in the title though until now everything worked fine. I tried to remove the new files and refresh but still it does not work.I have been searching on the forum and on the web to fix the issue, found a few information and nothing worked - could you please suggest how I should fix this?&nbsp;&nbsp;

chendo1981 · Answer

Hi,&nbsp;Yo have to alocate only xlsx into the folder to import in PowerBI, the rest of archives can´t alocate into this folder.&nbsp;For example, if you import one folder whit more than one archives, and also, one archive, you have to separated both:&nbsp;......descktop/archivo1.xlsx......descktop/data/&nbsp;Archivo1 doesn´t alocate in data folder.&nbsp;Ciao

anonymous · Answer

Hi Snoggi,&nbsp;2 things helped me after all which I think you could try:&nbsp;1) Check if you surely not have any hidden files in a folder which you pull in to your model as a datasource. Damaged xlsxes and any hidden files can mass up your dataflow. (I had those when I tried to save a file on our shared drive and had some network error in the meantime.) Easiest if you check in your query editor the list of files so you can easily spot whether there is something that does not make sense.&nbsp;2) Delete the connections in your data model between your different tables, and re-make them.&nbsp;

shizuku0516 · Answer

I meet same situation about "OLE DB&nbsp;or&nbsp;ODBC&nbsp;Error: [DataFormat.Error]", I read below reply and solved this problem.&nbsp;My data source located a&nbsp;folder in company cloud driver, today I put a BI file into this folder then refresh data, I got this error information, when I remove this file everything back to normal.&nbsp;Make sure data source folder clean and keep source file only.&nbsp;Thanks for reply from chendo1981 and another anonymous user, I click "Like" for you.

anonymous · Answer

Anonymous,How about you re-connect to the folder in a new Power BI Desktop file? Also please directly open the Excel file, check if you get restricted Access message, and check if the sheets are locked. Based on my research, the above error could occur due to the two aspects.Regards,Lydia

anonymous · Answer

Thanks for the answer. None of the files are restricted and none of them have locked sheets.

I tried to re-load the folder in a new Power BI Desktop file (on another laptop) and had the following error:

"Failed to save modifications to the server. Error returned: OLE DB or ODBC error: [DataSource.NotFound] Excel Workbook: The 'Microsoft.ACE.OLEFB.12.0' provider is not registered on the local machine. The 64 bit Database Engine OLEDB provider may be required to read ...xlsx. To download the client software... etc."

I will get it installed today with our IT department and see if that helps, however I have it on my home pc and the file does not work there either.

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OLE DB or ODBC Error: [DataFormat.Error] External table is not in the expected format...

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