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Word/Excel links won't update on some systems

I have a Word document saved as 97-2003 Compatible (.doc) with links to an Excel macro-enabled workbook (.xlsm), although the workbook does not actually have macros in it right now.

On my computer, when I edit the Excel file and then open the Word file (both in 2010), and it asks me if I want to update the links, I click 'yes' and all the link fields update as expected. Likewise they work fine when using Office 2007.

However a customer of mine, who also uses Office 2010, opens the exact same Word file on his system using the exact same Excel file, and none of the links update when he clicks 'yes'. Furthermore, when he manually updates the links, some of the links update and some refuse. There's no error message, they just don't update. He has used the same files on a Mac (Office 2011) and does not run into this problem.

Both of us use Windows 7. What is my customer doing wrong?

Hi,

Thank you for choosing Microsoft community.

 

I need more information before troubleshooting on the issue:

Since the Excel file does not contain any macros, what is the need for saving it in the .xlsm format?

Verify what happens if you save the Excel file in .xlsx format, does it update the links successfully?

Note: Ensure to back up the .xlsm file before saving it as .xlsx format.

 

Try the steps below:

1.     Click on file, and then click Excel Options

2.       On the Formulas tab, click Manual under Calculation options, and then click OK.

3.       Open the saved workbook.

4.       In the Data tab, click Edit Links in the Connections group

5.     Click Check Status 

 

Let us know the status of the link, if it states any of the below:

·         Unknown,

·         Not applicable

·         Error: Source not found, Error: Worksheet not found, .

·         Warning: Values not updated,

 

Thank you.

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Hello,
The Excel file belongs to a customer of mine and I don't know why he has it saved in the .xlsm format.
I'm not sure my problem was completely understood. It's the links in Word that are the issue; links pulling data from the Excel workbook, not the workbook itself.

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Hi

Thank you for replying.

 

Open Word document > click on file > edit links to files > click on change source > and select the Excel file.

 

If the above steps does not work then try to save the document in .docx and check if the issue persists.

 

Thank you.

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It appears that you have to do this for each link separately. I wish there was a way to update all links from the same excel file at one time. 
Dawn Zuber

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Last updated April 6, 2023 Views 4,729 Applies to: