Excel links keep losing their paths
Hi
A user is having trouble with her Excel (2016) files
She has many files that contain multiple worksheets e.g. fifty two
These worksheets can contain multiple links to external Excel files
It's no so much the size of the files but rather the number links and worksheets each file contains
Very often when she opens these files, a warning pops up indicating that certain links are no longer valid; apparently she had updated these the previous day (or else before that)
I took the time to to open a file and in effect a message popped up indicating that two linked files weren't available anymore
I looked up the location for one of the sought files and discovered that it wasn't in the designated folder, but in another subfolder
The user promptly indicated that this file didn't have any issues up until now
This situation has been going on for months and it has now become very difficult to talk with this person in light of the frustration and anger that has accumulated as a result of this situation
I disabled, in response to her demands, all the protection options that exist within Excel so that she isn't hampered by confirmation and enabling/activation requests
I don't know what or who to blame for this situation
Is the user to blame because she doesn't know how to properly use Excel ?
Maybe she is updating the links but not saving the files once this update has been accomplished ?
Is Excel losing it's grip and resetting file links to their previous instances ?
She is using a Dell Optiplex 790, 4 GB RAM, i7-2600 2,8GHz
Everything is up to date, Dell bios included
Any suggestions ?
thanks
yann
A user is having trouble with her Excel (2016) files
She has many files that contain multiple worksheets e.g. fifty two
These worksheets can contain multiple links to external Excel files
It's no so much the size of the files but rather the number links and worksheets each file contains
Very often when she opens these files, a warning pops up indicating that certain links are no longer valid; apparently she had updated these the previous day (or else before that)
I took the time to to open a file and in effect a message popped up indicating that two linked files weren't available anymore
I looked up the location for one of the sought files and discovered that it wasn't in the designated folder, but in another subfolder
The user promptly indicated that this file didn't have any issues up until now
This situation has been going on for months and it has now become very difficult to talk with this person in light of the frustration and anger that has accumulated as a result of this situation
I disabled, in response to her demands, all the protection options that exist within Excel so that she isn't hampered by confirmation and enabling/activation requests
I don't know what or who to blame for this situation
Is the user to blame because she doesn't know how to properly use Excel ?
Maybe she is updating the links but not saving the files once this update has been accomplished ?
Is Excel losing it's grip and resetting file links to their previous instances ?
She is using a Dell Optiplex 790, 4 GB RAM, i7-2600 2,8GHz
Everything is up to date, Dell bios included
Any suggestions ?
thanks
yann
Jackie Man
The Excel files are saved at network share or OneDrive?
ASKER
Thanks for your response Jackie
Windows network share and Dropbox
Windows network share and Dropbox
Need to share field with other via Dropbox?
If yes, do the other party for the shared files has write permission?
If yes, do the other party for the shared files has write permission?
ASKER
Are you suggesting that others, using the same files, may unknowingly alter the link locations ?
Yes
It is just one question when there is external link in an Excel file. People might just click the wrong answer and save the file afterwards.
It is just one question when there is external link in an Excel file. People might just click the wrong answer and save the file afterwards.
Going to the cloud will bring new problem if you do not bring the old way of using network drive also.
https://www.expandrive.com/map-or-mount-dropbox-as-a-network-drive-on-mac-and-windows/
https://www.expandrive.com/map-or-mount-dropbox-as-a-network-drive-on-mac-and-windows/
ASKER
I personally use and prefer Netdrive
Indeed, maybe this could help...or make matters worse ?
thanks Jackie
Indeed, maybe this could help...or make matters worse ?
thanks Jackie
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ASKER
True, true Brian, thanks
ASKER
As an end note, I feel the need to remember that I don't know it all
Maybe there is something that I have overlooked
Maybe there is a bug that I am unaware of
Furthermore, when in doubt or stumped, I find that a second opinion is always a fail safe way to go
Maybe there is something that I have overlooked
Maybe there is a bug that I am unaware of
Furthermore, when in doubt or stumped, I find that a second opinion is always a fail safe way to go