asked on Pivot table source data is external, seems to work fine, but I can't read the external file
I have a spreadsheet with a pivot table that has an external data source. When I open it and am connected to work VPN, it works fine.
If I save the file locally, disconnect from the VPN, then re-open the file, it says "WARNING External Data Connections have been disabled" ... so it seems to me that when I am connected to the VPN it can read the source data for the Pivot table.
The source data is '\Users\[user_name]\Documents\[Oracle Exports]\[file_name.xlsx]1980-2020 Data'!$A$1:$L$42536 ... if I plug that into Windows Explorer, it says it can't find it.
The file name looks like its a file on someone's PC, but I'm not quite sure. If it was on the original owner's PC, it would be something like C:\Users\willi\Documents ...
The owner of the source data is away for 2 weeks.
So just wondering about what's happening with this - if I can't read the data by pointing to the file in Windows Explorer, how does Excel read it?
How could I test this out?
I tested it out this morning, so Excel for local files doesn't include 'C:\***", e.g.,
\Users\peck\Pictures\Misc\Excel Pivot table test\[Graduation_Rates_(all).xlsx]All Data'!$B$4:$R$31596
but for a network location, it includes the drive letter, e.g.
'J:\IR_DATA\Peck-tickets\Excel Pivot table test\[Graduation_Rates_(all).xlsx]All Data'!$B$4:$R$31596
so conclusion for my original question is it's a local file, the PC owner just created a folder in \Users for [user_name] and placed the file there ... I was a little confused because the general policy is a user cannot create folders in \Users\***
But thanks!
User could have been working on the network file and requested extra information for that file. Data was received in an email and created a link to the file received which may have been saved in their documents or download folder.
thanks for the clarification ... makes sense ...
ok, very good, makes sense. I just wanted to check here before hitting up our Admins, and wanted to confirm my suspicion before doing that.
Thanks!