Break links automatically changes graph's date format

[WhytheQ]

(this is Excel 2003)

We have a graph in BookA.
When I open BookA the format of the dates on the X axis are
01-Jan-2006.
When I use Edit>Links>Break Link to BookB, the dates on the graph
revert to a general integer: 38718

Any one ever encountered this before: any ideas how to preserve the
format?

Any help greatly appreciated,
Jason

 

[Andy Pope]

Hi,

Not sure whether you can preserve the formatting. If you check the data
series after breaking the link the numeric values of the dates is what
has been transfered not the formatted ones.

To fix it you need to double click the axis and set the Number format to
be the same as the cells where the data originally came from.

Cheers
Andy

 

[WhytheQ]

thanks Andy: double clicking the axis and re-formatting the numbers as
dates is what we are presently doing.
I was hoping that there would be a way around having to do this.

seems strange to me that formatting can be dependent on links.

cheers
Jason.

 

[Jon Peltier]

When the chart is formatted properly (the source workbook is open and still
linked), format the axis. On the Number tab, uncheck the linked to Source
box. This preserves the selected format when the source goes away.

- Jon

 

[WhytheQ]

Thanks very much
J

 

[WhytheQ]

OK - the unchecking of "Linked to Source" box worked fine for
preserving the axis format, but it doesn't seem to work for the graphs
legend i.e we have three lines on a graph for April,May & June
respectively, but if the source file is closed then the legend changes
to 38808,38838 & 38869 !!!

Anybody got any ideas?

Any help greatly appreciated.
Jason