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How do I allow MS Excel launch an app from a hyperlink on an iOS device?

Our iOS devices are loaded with Maps.me so that we can use offline maps. We have a spreadsheet with a series of hyperlinks that will launch Maps.me and display the desired location. The Apple version of the hyperlink looks something like "ge0://_X-mwmlX3T/52015_Wood_Pol". If I SMS this link to an iOS device it will work as it should but when we try to launch it from a hyperlink in an Excel spreadsheet we get a message that says "The link address may be invalid, or you may not have permission to open it". I know it's not invalid because it works when copied and SMS'd so it's an issue of permission. Is there any way to get an iOS device to allow a hyperlink launch an app like this, or is that just too much for Apple products to cope with?

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Jackie Man

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Rob4077

ASKER

And yet if I SMS the link it will happily decode it. This appears to be yet another limitation of Apple Grrr! The equivalent works fine on Android and Windows.

Jackie Man

The equivalent works fine on Android and Windows.

True.

Android OS is using many codes from Microsoft's patents and its compatibility is better when you compared with iOS.

... and you seldom need to install any apps in Android OS to communicate with MS Windows OS. For iOS, you must install iTunes for Windows if you want your iDevices to communicate with MS Windows OS.

Microsoft Takes Six Billion Dollars From Android
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewanspence/2015/11/01/microsoft-android-patent-income/#5733949d5c6c

Rob4077

ASKER

Well I guess that's why I hear so many people getting frustrated with Apple products. In this case it doesn't make sense how the link can work from SMS but not from the spreadsheet, but I guess it's these limitations that have turned me away from Apple to Android.

Mind you, I'm no fan of MS either. They seem to have a strategy of progressively introducing dehancements to their MS Office products. I wish I had never taken a subscription to them - the earlier versions worked much better and if something worked yesterday you could count on it working today - not so anymore. Every day I expect new surprise dehancements.

Rob4077

ASKER

Not the answer I wanted to here but facts are facts. Thanks.