Prevent Automatic Link Updating/Changing

[jbennett01]

I created a spreadsheet to be a search tool for our client directives and instructions. Each entry in the spreadsheet has a link to the actual document. To ensure the security of the data from unauthorized or accidental changes, I upload a copy of the master file to our local network for people to download to their local "machines." The macro that serves as the search engine will update the data as needed.

However, in testing on those other "machines" the links change. In the master document they are this: "file://\\XXXXXXX\dept\MainFolder\FULLPATH"

Once downloaded they become: "c:\users\name\FULLPATH"

Above, I have put the word machines in quotes since the people who have tested this are remote users so they log into the network using a virtual environment. I am also remote but I log directly into my computer at the office. I have looked for solutions here and elsewhere and tried what I could find without success. We are using Office2016. Under Options-->Advances-->When calculating this workbook the current selections are:

• "Update links to other documents" is unchecked
• "Set precision as displayed" is unchecked
• "Save external link values" is checked

Using the Workbook Open event, I have this:

    With ThisWorkbook
        '.UpdateLinks = xlUpdateLinksNever
        .UpdateRemoteReferences = False
    End With

I tried UpdateLinks first but that did not help so I remmed it out and added the UpdateRemoteReferences line. The search engine works fine. It is just the links that are the problem. Any suggestions would be helpful.