System.Data.OleDb.OleDbException: Invalid internet address. How do you connect to excel files located on a webserver using OleDb

Question

I'm trying to create an OleDb connection to an Excel file that is located on a SharePoint server. The example code I'm playing with at the moment throws an OleDb exception "Invalid internet address":

public static void ConnectToRemoteExcelFile()
    {
        string connectionString = String.Format("Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source={0};Extended Properties=\"Excel 8.0;HDR=Yes;\";", "http://horde.servername.co.uk/Docs/Documents/Sales.xlsx");

        using (OleDbConnection connection = new OleDbConnection(connectionString))
        {
            connection.Open();
        }

    }

Anyone know how to connect to an excel spread sheet on a web server?

Update

Microsoft support have come back to me and agree that is not possible to connect to Excel files located on a web server. Both Jet .40 and the news ACE (Access Connectivity Engine) do not support this mode of operation. They cite reference to the KB Article "The Import/Link Data on an FTP or HTTP Server Help topic is not correct in Access 2000, Access 2002, Access 2003 and Access 2007"

Fabulous

Answer 1

As far as I know that is not possible, you would have to download the file first, then access it. The reason being is that the file could not be modified given its location.

Wesla