Friday, November 05, 2021

SQL Server linked server to .xlsx Excel files

A question came up recently concerning whether it was still possible to connect to .xlsx Excel files as  SQL Server linked servers.

Short answer: Yes, it's possible as recently as SQL 2019 using ACE.OLEDB.12.0 provider. 

Medium answer: Yes, but linked servers from SQL Server to Access and Excel are only supported when using the deprecated 32-bit Microsoft.JET.OLEDB.4.0 OLE DB provider

Long answer: Yes, but this shouldn't be part of any automated ETL process, please please engineer around using Excel file interchange in any automated data ingestion processes. That said...