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# External Link in WK4 File Displays #REF! Error Value

Article ID: 123262

Article Last Modified on 8/15/2005

APPLIES TO

- Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Excel 95 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Excel 5.0 Standard Edition

This article was previously published under Q123262

## SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, when you open a Lotus 1-2-3 .wk4 file that contains a link to another file, you receive one of the following error messages:

### Microsoft Excel 97

The workbook you opened contains automatic links to information in another workbook. Do you want to update this workbook with changes made to the other workbook?
When you click Yes, the cells are updated with the values. However, when you click No, the cells on the worksheet that contain a link to another file display the #REF! error value.

### Microsoft Excel 7.0

This document contains links. Re-establish links?
When you click Yes, the cells are updated with the values. However, when you click No, the cells on the worksheet that contain a link to another file display the #REF! error value.

### Microsoft Excel 5.0

This document contains links. You can re-establish them with the Edit Links command.
When you click OK, the cells on the worksheet that contain a link to another file display the #REF! error value.

## CAUSE

This behavior occurs when you open a Lotus 1-2-3 .wk4 file that contains a link to another file, such as another Lotus 1-2-3 .wk4 file.

## WORKAROUND

To update an external link in a Lotus 1-2-3 .wk4 file in Microsoft Excel, follow these steps:

1. In Microsoft Excel, open the Lotus 1-2-3 WK4 file.
2. Click OK in the dialog box that indicates that the document contains links.
3. On the Edit menu, click Links.
4. In the Links dialog box, select the link that you want to update.
5. Click Update Now.
   NOTE: If you want to open the source document, click Open. This also updates the external link.

To avoid this behavior, save the file in the Microsoft Excel workbook format.

## MORE INFORMATION

To open a Lotus 1-2-3 .wk4 file in Microsoft Excel 5.0, obtain the Lotus 1-2-3 .wk4 file converter. The Lotus 1-2-3 .wk4 file converter is available in the "Lotus 1-2-3 WK4 File Converter" (WE1130 ) Application Note. Lotus 1-2-3 is manufactured by Lotus Corporation, a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

## REFERENCES

"Lotus 1-2-3 WK4 File Converter" Readme.txt
For more information about updating source data, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text

`source data`

and then double-click the selected text to go to the " Update a link to data on your intranet or the Internet" topic.

Additional query words: 5.00c release 5 8.00 xl97 XL

Keywords: kbualink97 kb3rdparty KB123262