Microsoft KB Archive/75070

{| = DDE Timed Out in Word For Windows When Linked to Excel Doc. =
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Last reviewed: October 7, 1997

Article ID: Q75070 3.00 WINDOWS kbother The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 3.0

SUMMARY
When you have a DDE (dynamic data exchange) link from Word for Windows to an Excel document that has external references, you may receive the error:

DDE timed out. Continue waiting? When you select Yes, the message eventually comes back again. This most commonly occurs with charts that have been pasted into a Word for Windows document with the Paste Link command. However, it will happen with any link from an Excel document that contains external links.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Excel version 3.0. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Excel version 4.0.

MORE INFORMATION
Normally, this error indicates that the application from which the data has been copied is taking too long to provide the data for the link.

In this case, however, the worksheet or chart in Microsoft Excel is in the process of opening and is prompting you to &quot;Update References to unopened documents.&quot; The message is hidden behind the Word for Windows application so you are unable to choose Yes or No.

For more information on resolving this issue, contact Microsoft Product Support Services at (425) 635-7070.