Microsoft KB Archive/100080

Automatic Nature of Link to Excel Worksheet Not Reestablished PSS ID Number: Q100080 Article last modified on 07-14-1994

2.00 2.00a 2.00a-CD 2.00b 2.00c

WINDOWS

= Summary =

You can choose to update an automatic (hot) link to a closed Microsoft Excel worksheet when you open the Word for Windows document that contains the link. However, if the Excel worksheet is not open, the link updates, but the automatic nature of the link is not reestablished. In other words, the link behaves as if it were a manual link instead of an automatic one. This means that, if you open and edit the Excel worksheet after you opened the Word document, the link does not update automatically in Word, even if you chose Yes when Word prompted you to establish the automatic links. You must manually update the link in Word by pressing F9.

This happens because when you open the document that contains the link, Word does not reestablish the automatic nature of the link if the Excel worksheet is not open. There is nothing wrong with the link in your Word document except that it acts like a manual link instead of an automatic one.

By contrast, if the Excel worksheet is already open when you open the Word document that contains the link, Word reestablishes the hot link and automatically updates the link if you edit the Excel worksheet.

= Status =

This problem was corrected in Word version 6.0 for Windows.

= Workaround =

First, open the Excel worksheet that contains the linked cells, then open the Word document that contains the link. Choose Yes when Word prompts you to automatically update the links.

Reference(s):

“Microsoft Word for Windows User’s Guide,” version 2.0, pages 686-687

Additional reference words: 2.00 2.00a 2.00a-CD 2.00b 2.00c winword spreadsheet switch linking field w4wexcel

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Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1994.