title: Getting "External table is not in the expected format." error while trying to import an Excel File in SSIS
body: <p>I am trying to import an Excel file (<code>.xls</code>) via SSIS to a table in SQL Server. But SSIS doesn't seem to recognize the file as a valid Excel file. I get the following errors:</p>
  
  <p>Error 1:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>[Excel Source [86]] Error: SSIS<br>
    Error Code DTS_E_CANNOTACQUIRECONNECTIONFROMCONNECTIONMANAGER.<br>
    The AcquireConnection method call to the connection manager "Carga Base Original" failed with error code 0xC0202009. There may be error messages posted before this with more information on why the AcquireConnection method call failed.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Error 2:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>[SSIS.Pipeline]<br>
    Error: Excel Source failed validation and returned error code 0xC020801C.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Error 3:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>[Connection manager "Carga Base Original"] Error: SSIS Error Code DTS_E_OLEDBERROR. An OLE DB error has occurred. Error code: 0x80004005.
    An OLE DB record is available.<br>
    Source: "Microsoft Access Database Engine"<br>
    Hresult: 0x80004005<br>
    Description: "External table is not in the expected format".</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>My connection manager properties is an Excel Source, its properties look like this:</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/AkKWL.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/AkKWL.png" alt="Connection Manager Properties"></a></p>
  
  <p>I am passing the Excel file path through a variable. The Excel file looks OK and is not corrupted. I tried to put a fix Excel path, try to put it in Connection String property (fix path and variable), but nothing of this helped.  </p>
  
  <p>Can anyone please help me?</p>