"Cannot record your changes" errors when using the SAS/ACCESS® Interface to PC Files Server


When exporting to Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Access you can receive the following errors using the SAS PC Files Server.

ERROR: CLI execute error: [Microsoft][ODBC Excel Driver] You cannot record your changes because a value you entered violates the settings defined for this table or list (for example, a value is less than the minimum or greater than the maximum). Correct the error and try again.
WARNING: File deletion failed for _IMEX_.Driver_Errors.DATA.
ERROR: Export unsuccessful. See SAS Log for details.
NOTE: The SAS System stopped processing this step because of errors.

The problem occurs when exporting values that are invalid for Excel or Microsoft Access to store. For example, dates that are earlier than Jan. 1, 1900 are not allowed to be stored as date values in Excel.

To circumvent the problem, you should either exclude the values or change the values to character values by concatenating a ' character to the data that cannot be stored.