Microsoft KB Archive/124931

= Microsoft Knowledge Base =

MXL5: Link to Win Excel 4 Worksheet Displays #REF! Error Value
Last reviewed: May 28, 1997

Article ID: Q124931

5.00 5.00a MACINTOSH kbinterop kbmac

The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a

SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel 5.0 for the Macintosh, when you open a Microsoft Excel 5.0 for Windows workbook that contains a link to a Microsoft Excel 4.0 for Windows worksheet, the linked cell may display the #REF! error value.

CAUSE
This behavior occurs only if you do one of the following:

 You open the linked version 4.0 worksheet before opening the version 5.0 workbook that contains the link. -or- You open the version 5.0 workbook first, and you choose not to re-establish the links in the document.

This behavior occurs because a Microsoft Excel version 4.0 worksheet is referenced differently in a version 5.0 workbook on the Macintosh than in a version 5.0 workbook in Windows. For example, cell A1 on the version 4.0 worksheet TEST1.XLS is referenced as ='[TEST1.XLS]TEST1'!$A$1 in a version 5.0 workbook in Windows, and as ='[TEST1.XLS]TEST1.XLS'!$A$1 on the Macintosh.

This behavior occurs only when you open a Microsoft Excel 5.0 for Windows workbook that contains a reference to a Microsoft Excel 4.0 for Windows worksheet.

WORKAROUNDS
To work around this problem, use any of the following methods.

Method 1: Open the Microsoft Excel 5.0 workbook file that contains the link

to the 4.0 worksheet first. When you open the workbook file, choose Yes to re-establish the links to the worksheet. The link is displayed correctly when you use this method. Method 2: Use the Links dialog box to update the link by doing the

following:

a. From the Edit menu, choose Links.

b. Select the link to the Microsoft Excel 4.0 for Windows worksheet.

c. Choose the Update Now button.

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.