For real:
Problem: When you try to return data from Microsoft Query 97 to a Microsoft Excel 97 worksheet, the spinning globe icon (which signifies that a query is processing) may appear for a long time, and then the query returns no data to your worksheet.
Method 1: Turn Off the Enable Background Refresh Setting
To prevent the query from running in the background, follow these
steps:
... [blahblahblah] ...Method 2: Move Your Mouse Pointer
If you move your mouse pointer continuously while the data is being
returned to Microsoft Excel, the query may not fail. Do not stop moving the
mouse until all the data has been returned to Microsoft Excel.NOTE: Depending on your query, it may take several minutes to return
the results of your query to the worksheet.
WTF
That is the best workaround ever.
“The query may not fail” is a nice phrasing, also.
Priceless.
It works well as a prank workaround, see who in the office is going to be dense enough to sit at his desk for minutes on end, jiggling the mouse and staring at the spinning globe icon.
it’s like a ouija board, only with numbers.