Access changing data type on import of file

Richard Yamamoto 5

I have Access through Office 365. This month, the available data types for importing a file have changed. For example, "Double" no longer is available. I cannot find a summary of what data types were removed and what to use in their place. My bigger issue is that Access is changing the data type "Short Text" to "Long Text" upon importing a file ("Long Text" isn't even an option in the import dialogue). I'm unable to change the data type back to "Short Text" in Design View. When I try, I get a message that there isn't enough disk space or memory.

George Hepworth 22,855 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-04-20T14:46:07.5866667+00:00

The data types in Access have not changed. What you are experiencing with imports probably reflects something about those import files. Also, there is possibly a clue in the insufficient disk space or memory error message.

Therefore we need additional information:

What update channel are you on? Build of Access 365 do you have? Is it 32 bit or 64 bit?

What is the file type of the file you are importing, txt, csv or something else?
How many records are in a file? How many fields are in the records?

Finally, show us, if you can do so without violating privacy or confidentiality, some samples of the data being imported. At least 20 records would be useful for this.
Thank you for helping us help you.

Answer recommended by moderator

George Hepworth 22,855 Volunteer Moderator

I reported this bug in Build 2604 to the Access team at Microsoft on the 20th. They are looking into it.

In the meantime, rolling back to Build 2603, as has been stated above, will restore the appropriate behavior.

Adding to the complexity, other issues have been identified -- and resolved -- in this Build, so it's unclear where this one stands.

Please note, however, that the data types themselves did not change.

It is a change in the way the data import process recognizes them in the source file. Temporarily rolling back to the prior build will restore the appropriate behavior.

AccessForever.org has articles with advice on Update Bugs.

https://www.accessforever.org/post/how-to-deal-with-update-bugs

https://www.accessforever.org/post/demystifying-microsoft-365-update-channels

Karl Donaubauer 3,191 Reputation points

2026-04-24T21:09:23.3266667+00:00

Hi,

George has been successful with his bug report to Microsoft: They plan to publish a fix for this problem in next week's Office update.

Servus
Karl

Access Forever News DevCon
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Stephen Newchok 0 Reputation points

2026-04-28T13:27:12.5533333+00:00

To get past the memory issue on converting the field types: 1. Copy the "bad" table - structure only to a new table. 2 Change the "good" table fields to short text. 3. Append the data from bad to good.
Mateusz Oracz (kursmaturainformatyka) 10 Reputation points

2026-04-28T16:18:53.5433333+00:00

Thanks for the update and for reporting this to the Access team.

Unfortunately, version 2604 introduces a serious issue affecting text file imports in Microsoft Access - specifically in how data types are recognized during the import process.

In 16 days, students in Poland will take their final high school exams (Matura), which determine admission to computer science studies. One of the tasks (worth ~20% of the total score) is based on Microsoft Access and requires importing text files as the very first step.

Since this version updates automatically for students, it’s very likely that some of them will be negatively affected during the exam and may end up with significantly worse results because of this bug.

We’re aware that rolling back to Build 2603 restores correct behavior, but in practice many students won’t have the knowledge or permissions to do that before the exam.

We’ve described the issue and possible workarounds here: https://kursmaturainformatyka.pl/blog/microsoft-access-2604-krytyczny-problem-import-matura-informatyka

(The article is in Polish, but can be translated in the browser.)

We’re closely following the situation and hoping for a fix in an upcoming update as soon as possible, given the time-sensitive impact.

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Richard Yamamoto 5 Reputation points

2026-04-20T17:46:57.03+00:00

I really don't think there's an issue with the data. As mentioned, I was able to import the files into Access on my backup PC that had build 2603. I was presented with the same Data Types during the import process that I've seen and used in prior months. And, upon import, Access did not change the Data Types for the fields I imported as Short Text into Long Text.

In the earlier response, I included a screenshot of the Data Types that build 2604 presented as available during import (AccessDataTypes.pdf). Long Text was not an option. However, upon import, Access showed all the fields I had imported as Short Text as Long Text. The AccessDataTypes.pdf file also included a screenshot of this.
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George Hepworth 22,855 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-04-20T18:32:33.18+00:00

Agreed, but the fact that we can see only a handful out of 900,000 records does mean that we can't look for potential items where the two builds would handle a record differently.

I see that you attached the screenshots as links, not in line in the thread. Perhaps that is why I didn't notice the datatypes PDF.

So, you previously had Double as an option in that dropdown, along with Long Text? In 2604 neither are available.

When I use the import dialog in 2603, they are available. What we need is for someone with version 2604 installed to confirm the same behavior.

Actually, there was an issue reported a couple of weeks ago in 2604 which affected fonts in some situations. It was resolved. I'm going to follow up with a request for Microsoft to consider this issue as well.
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George Hepworth 22,855 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-04-20T17:38:06.0566667+00:00

Thanks for providing sufficient information to investigate possible problems.

Noting that, for you, the problem appears when using build 2604, but not 2603, is one of those important details.

Unfortunately, the small amount of data in your sample doesn't reflect any potential issues in the data. Still, with up to 900,000 records in a file, that can't be ruled out yet either.

I have build 2603 installed, so I can't see what happens with your sample in build 2604. Like DBG asked, it would help, therefore, to have a screenshot showing the problem in build 2604.
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Stephen Newchok 0 Reputation points

2026-04-28T16:34:43.58+00:00

If this helps anyone, this is a screenshot of the data types I see currently (having the 2604 issue)

Stephen Newchok 0 Reputation points

2026-04-28T16:35:45.8+00:00

Data types I see during external data imports

currently (having the 2604 issue)
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Richard Yamamoto 5 Reputation points

2026-04-20T16:02:49.0533333+00:00

It does appear that something has changed with the latest Access update. On my backup PC I still have Version 2603 (Build 19822.20168). On that PC, I was able to import the files without any issues. The Data Types available in the Advanced import dialogue included options that were missing (e.g., Double) in Version 2604. Version 2603 did not change the fields I had imported as "Short Text" to "Long Text."
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Richard Yamamoto 5 Reputation points

2026-04-20T15:26:10.84+00:00

I'm using Access through Microsoft 365. The Version is 2604 (Build 1992920032). I believe it's 64 bit.

The import process I'm using is something I've done every month for the last 15+ years. I import fixed-width text files from a commercial tax rate vendor and various Excel files. Nothing has changed on my end from prior months when I've never had the issues I'm having this month.

The files vary in length. The largest file has more than 900,000 records. I've attached samples of one of the text files and one of the Excel files.

SampleTXTfile_rhy.txt

SampleExcelFile_rhy.pdf

Here are the Data Types in the Import file Advanced dialogue box and the Data Types assigned by Access upon importing the file:

AccessDataTypes.pdf
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Access changing data type on import of file

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