error message 7 is an illegal or reserved name

[AnnH]

I get this error message:
Error: 7 is an illegal or reserved name in "READ(t=xls, c3, na=na, s=q) "C:\model\Sales\Stocks.xls" 7"

for this statement:
READ(t=xls, c3, na=na, s=q) "C:\model\Sales\Stocks.xls" 7

I'm having trouble figuring out what is wrong because previously in the program, I use this statement and it works ok:
READ(t=xls, b2, na=na) "C:\model\Sales\Output.xls" 61

[EViews Gareth]

First comment is that you shouldn't be using the READ command :) You should use IMPORT instead.

However, to debug the READ command, could you provide the excel file?

[AnnH]

figured out that I had a problem with how the N/A's were written i excel... once I fixed that it worked fine.

Will be switching over to import statements, thanks!