Embedded data from external links

[DoktorPhill]

My spreadsheet references an external .xlsx database of a few thousand entries and the files are getting progressively larger.
I'm trying to cut down on the file size so I went digging inside the file using the .zip method. This file here externalLink2.xml contains the entire external database.

Is there a way to stop excel from embedding this data? Isn't the point of an external reference to cut down on multiple copies of the same data?

 

[DoktorPhill]

Just in case anyone finds this with the same problem (Since I've been searching for an answer for a few hours at this point)

I found this wonderful video from Excel Off The Grid who advises to turn off this option in Settings: Advanced

Uncheck Save external link values.

 

[jkpieterse]

Note that turning that off will mean that any formulas using that link will not retain the current results if Excel is unable to locate the source file.