You can connect to a csv file (which can be opened in Excel and which an Excel file can be converted into) in good form just as you can to a regular database.
The .csv file needs to be uploaded to the server.
And for help connecting to a text file using the Jet OLE DB provider:
http://www.able-consulting.com/MDAC/...crosoftJetText
And based on the above link realize that the actual filename does NOT go in the connection string - rather it goes in the SQL statement (definitely a little tricky).