Microsoft KB Archive/74171

{| = Excel Err Msg: Unable to Paste Link =
 * width="100%"|

Last reviewed: April 29, 1998

Article ID: Q74171 2.10 2.10c 2.10d 3.00 | 3.00 WINDOWS              | OS/2 kbother

SUMMARY
You may receive the error message &quot;Unable to Paste Link&quot; when working in Excel. Generally, this message means that Excel cannot paste a link using the type of information that is currently in the Clipboard. The message may also appear if the Clipboard contains too much information for Excel to put in a cell.

MORE INFORMATION
In Excel, formulas are limited to 255 characters. It is common for users of Microsoft Q+E for Excel to attempt to copy and paste SQL queries from Q+E that exceed this limit, causing the above error message.

Steps to Reproduce Problem

 * 1) Create a long query in Q+E by adding 7 or 8 conditions.
 * 2) From the Q+E Edit menu, choose Copy Special.
 * 3) Select the SQL Text option under Link Formula.
 * 4) In Excel, choose Paste Link from the Edit menu.

Workarounds
  In Q+E, when you choose Copy Special, select the Query Name option rather than SQL Text. -or-   Use Copy instead of Copy Special from the Edit menu in Q+E. -or-  Restructure your query so that it is within Excel's limit yet returns the same information. For example, use Greater or Equal, rather than Greater than and Equal joined with OR.

For more information on structuring SQL queries, please see pages 11-20 of the &quot;Q+E for Microsoft Excel User's Guide&quot; for version 3.0.