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Importing from an Excel spreadsheet may fail with an import error

Summary

Performing an import from an Excel spreadsheet may result in the error [Unexpected error from external database driver (1).]

Symptoms

Performing an import into FlexNet Manager Suite from an Excel spreadsheet may result in the import error: 
[Unexpected error from external database driver (1).]

Cause

A Microsoft update, published on October 10th, 2017 includes a security update that has resulted in Excel imports, that use the Microsoft JET Database Engine, will no longer work.

https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/dataaccesstechnologies/2017/10/18/unexpected-error-from-external-database-driver-1-microsoft-jet-database-engine-after-applying-october-security-updates/

The FlexNet Business Importer will fail to import excel spreadsheets using the .xls format. Files using the .xlsx format are not affected.

Workaround

For imports using the Business Importer, changing the Excel files to use the .xlsx format from Business Adapter Studio will result in a successful import.

The Microsoft updates may also be uninstalled, however this is not recommended by Microsoft:
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/dataaccesstechnologies/2017/10/18/unexpected-error-from-external-database-driver-1-microsoft-jet-database-engine-after-applying-october-security-updates/

Additional Information

Flexera is performing further investigations into this issue.
Changing the extension in the XML file alone will not work, due to having the file type as "Excel 8.0" for example instead of "Excel 12.0 Xml" when using version 12.0 OLEDB Drivers. Changing it from Business Adapter Studio will select the right drivers from your machine.

Related KB Articles

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/45ebe780-967e-4748-a146-9ec7a15626dc/unexpected-error-from-external-database-driver-1?forum=itmanager
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/dataaccesstechnologies/2017/10/18/unexpected-error-from-external-database-driver-1-microsoft-jet-database-engine-after-applying-october-security-updates/
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Importing from an Excel spreadsheet may fail with an import error