Knowledge Base

Linked Cells Display #REF! Error with Dependent Workbook

Article ID: 117721

Article Last Modified on 8/15/2003

Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition

This article was previously published under Q117721

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, opening a dependent document linked to a source document may return #REF! error values. When a source document is opened before the dependent document and the source file has been renamed, all cell links will return a #REF! error value.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

This is not the same functionality as in the earlier versions of Microsoft Excel; in earlier versions of Microsoft Excel, a Change Links dialog box is displayed regardless of which document is opened first. Microsoft Excel versions 5.0 and later view worksheets as documents within a workbook and does not display an alert message when a worksheet is not found.

Additional query words: 97 XL

Keywords: KB117721