While trying to get into any datasheet view within SharePoint, an error message appears that says the following:
"The list cannot be displayed in Datasheet view for one or more of the following reasons:
- A datasheet component compatible with Windows SharePoint Services is not installed.
-Your Web browser does not support ActiveX controls.
-Support for ActiveX controls is disabled."
If you do not have Microsoft Office 2003 Professional installed on your computer you will get this message. Please see addition support group threads that reinforce this hypothesis.
From the Microsoft site:
Datasheet This view provides data in a format that you can edit, such as a table in a database or spreadsheet. This view can be helpful if you need to perform large editing tasks or customization, or export your data to a spreadsheet or database program. Datasheet view requires a control or program that is compatible with Windows SharePoint Services, such as Office Access 2007, and
ActiveX control (ActiveX control: A control, such as a check box or button that offers options to users or runs macros or scripts that automate a task. You can write macros for the control in Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications or scripts in Microsoft Script Editor.)
support.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepointserver/HA100215771033.aspx
SharePoint appears to depend on these other Microsoft programs to be able to run the datasheet views, which would explain why some computers can and some can't even though they all can download and use ActiveX controls.