How do I find "invalid external reference"?

E

excel M

I have modified a spreadsheet, and now am using "Save As" to save it.

When I save it I get the Microsoft Excel Alert (yellow triangle with
exclamation mark) with the message:
"Your formula contains an invalid reference to an external
worksheet".

I am not aware there is a formula in the worksheet that links to an
external worksheet. I guess I have inadvertently created one.

How do I find which formula this refers to?
Can I ask for a listing of all formula that link to external
worksheets?

I just don't know where to start looking for the problem.

Thanks,
Mike
 
P

Peter Atherton

Hello Mike

Try pressing the F5 (GoTo) button and choose Special, then
click the Formulas option.

All formulas will be selected - Now tab through them and
examine each formula nad look for one that looks something
like this =Personal.xls!$A$13

Perhaps others have a better answer

Peter
 
C

Chris R. Lee

It happened (I think) when I changed the names of some worksheets that were
the targets of formulae, and then did a search/replace/all (if that's what
it is in English XL) to change the names in the corresponding formulae. XL
gave various "open file" windows that I just closed.

Exploring the formulae as suggested allowed me to redirect them to the
original file. Can't remember the details, as I didn't take notes. Moral:
changing worksheet names on the tabs is dangerous.

Regards
 

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