Microsoft KB Archive/211953

= XL2000: Error Message When Editing Chart Linked to Closed Workbook =

Article ID: 211953

Article Last Modified on 11/5/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 2000 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q211953





SYMPTOMS
When you attempt to edit a series on a chart that is linked to a closed workbook, the following error message may appear:

Reference is not valid. Reference must be to an open worksheet.



CAUSE
This behavior can occur when the following conditions are true:
 * On the Chart menu, you click Source Data.

-and-
 * You click the Series tab and attempt to select an option.

-or
 * You click the Series tab, and then you click the Data Range tab.

This behavior occurs when a reference is made to a closed workbook. References must be to an open workbook.



WORKAROUND
To work around this behavior, follow these steps to open the source workbook:
 * 1) On the Edit menu, click Links.
 * 2) Select the appropriate source file, and then click Open Source. You can now update the data series using either the Source Data command or the Chart Wizard.



MORE INFORMATION
When you close the workbook and use the Chart Wizard, some functionality, such as the ability to change the chart type, is not available. Note that you cannot use the Source Data command on the Chart menu. If you do so, the error message described in the "Symptoms" section appears repeatedly.

