Hyperlinks now pointing at Sharepoint version of PDF when they were set up to open local (synced) version.

[DrMopp]

I have many worksheets stretching back several years with cells containing hyperlinks to PDF documents. Those documents are held on my OneDrive account. The links were created to point to the local version of the files (sync app is functioning correctly) However those links now point to the SharePoint version, prompting me to log in to my M365 account. No changes have been made to the workbooks themselves (there are too many for that to have been done manually) so it would seem it is a setting in OneDrive or the Sync app - thoughts anyone?

 

[zero269]

I have many worksheets stretching back several years with cells containing hyperlinks to PDF documents. Those documents are held on my OneDrive account. The links were created to point to the local version of the files (sync app is functioning correctly) However those links now point to the SharePoint version, prompting me to log in to my M365 account. No changes have been made to the workbooks themselves (there are too many for that to have been done manually) so it would seem it is a setting in OneDrive or the Sync app - thoughts anyone?

Hi DrMopp.

I don't use OneDrive, so I can't verify this.
However, I noticed a setting called "File open preference" under File > Options > Advanced that sounds like it could be the culprit.
There are two options: Browser and Desktop. The default is Browser. This applies to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.
If yours is set to Browser, try changing it to Desktop. Save and Close all open Office files/programs.
Now check to see if those hyperlinks reverted back to the local path.

There's a link in the settings that takes you here: Open file links directly in Microsoft 365 desktop apps from Teams and classic Outlook

I noticed this there:

"Change how Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or classic Outlook open links
In Microsoft 365 for Windows apps, you can set your file open preference for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files when you open them from Teams or classic Outlook, as long as the file is hosted on OneDrive or SharePoint."

...and below that: For links in Word, Excel, PowerPoint or classic Outlook

Hopefully this resolves your issue.

Best regards,

Also take a look into the "Update links on save" settings as well. They can either be reative or not.

 

[DrMopp]

Zero269 thanks for your reply, but I had checked this setting and it is set to 'Desktop'. Not sure, but I don't think this setting would come into play in any case as it is referring to opening 'Office (M365) files'. The links I am referring to are to pointing to PDF files (i.e. not 'Office' files ) held on a SharePoint account (but also synchronised to my PC.)

 

[zero269]

Zero269 thanks for your reply, but I had checked this setting and it is set to 'Desktop'. Not sure, but I don't think this setting would come into play in any case as it is referring to opening 'Office (M365) files'. The links I am referring to are to pointing to PDF files (i.e. not 'Office' files ) held on a SharePoint account (but also synchronised to my PC.)

Well that's unfortunate. I saw others online reporting a similar issue with links in Excel that point to their Office files in their OneDrive and they were created using the local path only later to see they point to the online path.
Hoepefully someone else here may have more insight.
I recall reading something about external links updating automatically... and they disabled that setting I think. But I don't recall if that automatically changed the hyperlinks back from OneDrive online to Ondrive local.
Best of luck...