Update links when there are none

[bfmuller]

i have a complex workbook. Recently, when I open it, it asks me if I want to update links. I never (that I know of) established any links to other workbooks. I see that a workbook is referenced in the "edit/links" menu, but I can find no way determine which cells, graphs, etc, in my workbook are subject to this link. I would like to get rid of this useless and bothersome issue.

 

[Stu Dapples]

First off, save a copy!!

On the copy version, go -->microsoft button--> prepare --> edit links.

See what the status of the links is, if not OK, there is an issue (maybe from moving or renaming a file)

In the list, highlight them and one by one, click break link. This will stop the issue of updating links. Once completed, have a look over your sheet CAREFULLY and ensure everything still works, if it does, jobs a good one, if not, there is a required link you have just broken (but you still have working in your original!!)

If something has stopped working, make a note of what no longer functions and look at the look up reference in the original version, this should tell you which WB, sheet and cell(s) is/ are being looked for and you can decide what to do with them.....

Hope this helps!

Stu

 

[cornflakegirl]

In terms of finding which cells use the link, I normally run a Find on the name of the workbook that there is a link to, and edit those formulas to remove the link. If you do this and come up with nothing, then maybe see if breaking the links works?

 

[bfmuller]

Thanks for the suggestions. They were very helpful.

It seems clear that the links came from moving worksheets one at a time rather than as an array, so I have a long term fix.

However, regarding the question of finding the cell(s) that are crippled by the link, I have one that is a mystery. The source is identified only as "object". No file name, nothing else. And, of course, I don't know what the "object" is. Everything seems to work OK, but the "Do you want to update links" requester on opening the file keeps coming back. I am running excel 2000. I don't see a "break links" menu item.

BTW, this link also goes away when I move sheets as an array, so it is not a real problem, but my intellectual curiosity is aroused.

thanks again.

 

[dcraker]

Have a look at this link and look under Phantom Links on Ozgrid. It has helped me. Most of my issues did fall in Named ranges area of the Insert>Name>Define. Hope this helps you figure out why you were seeing the Update links.

http://www.ozgrid.com/Excel/ExcelProblems.htm

 

[Petzy]

i have a complex workbook. Recently, when I open it, it asks me if I want to update links. I never (that I know of) established any links to other workbooks. I see that a workbook is referenced in the "edit/links" menu, but I can find no way determine which cells, graphs, etc, in my workbook are subject to this link. I would like to get rid of this useless and bothersome issue.

I have been struggling with the issue of updating links with my workbooks for a long time. I would pull my hair out because I was convinced I removed all old links and there were no links left to remove. I tried finding links by searching the square bracket " [ ". I went under the connections menu and broke all links. I would just end up removing whole works sheets and programming again from scratch. Finally I found out the problem with my workbook. It was the conditional formatting which was causing my worksheet to look elsewhere. To correct this on the main ribbon select the conditional formatting and select clear rules.