Excel Links Updates in 2003

[Guest]

My office recently upgraded to 2003 from 97. We experienced #REF errors in
many cells in our workbooks after the upgrade. To eliminate the #REF errors
I re-established most of the links in the A) Source or Data Workbook; B)
Target or Dept Workbooks; and C) Target Total Workbook.

Now we have a new problem. When data is changed in Workbook A, all B
Workbooks must be opened in order for Workbook C to update. In 97 we only
had to update data in A, then open Workbook C. All Workbooks would update
and the correct data would filter to Workbook C.

It would appear that there is now some sort of hierarchy of links between
Workbook A, Workbooks B, and Workbook C. Unless you open each individual
Workbook, Workbook C will not update.

How can we overcome this problem? It is too time consuming to open each
Workbook B individually.

Help?
Tracy B.
Feb 20/06
12:46 pm

 

[Dave Peterson]

xl2002+ likes to recalculate any workbooks that were created in previous
versions. In earlier versions of excel, if you answer No to the update links
prompt, the existing values are kept. In xl2002+, you get those errors.

Jim Rech posted a registry tweak:
http://groups.google.com/[email protected]

maybe it'll help you.

 

[Dave Peterson]

That message may apply only for #value errors.

Post back if it fails.

In fact, post back either way.

Thanks,

 

[Guest]

The problem occurs when I click 'Yes'. My Total file will not update with
the most recent data until each individual file has been opened and saved.
With 97 it would update without having to open each individual file.

 

[Guest]

I have eliminated the problem with the error message. The new problem is
that my Total workbook will not update with the new data inputed to the
source workbook until each individual target workbook has been opened. I
need this workbook to open with correct data without opening each individual
workbook.
Any ideas?

 

[Dave Peterson]

I'd check to make sure those links pointed at the files you wanted.

Edit|links
(maybe even update values on that dialog)

I have eliminated the problem with the error message. The new problem is
that my Total workbook will not update with the new data inputed to the
source workbook until each individual target workbook has been opened. I
need this workbook to open with correct data without opening each individual
workbook.
Any ideas?

 

[Guest]

Dave Peterson, I want to update my total file. I click "yes" when I open the
total file. The total file does not update with the new data unless I open
all other files before opening the total file. I want the total file to
automatically update with the new data without opening the other files. I
could do this in our old 97 version. Any other suggestions?

 

[Dave Peterson]

I've never seen excel not update the links when I chose to update the links.

You may be able to force an update by:
selecting all the sheets
select all the cells
edit|replace
what: = (equal sign)
with: = (equal sign)
replace all
ungroup the sheets

If you do this once (and save the workbook), maybe it'll wake excel up.

Dave Peterson, I want to update my total file. I click "yes" when I open the
total file. The total file does not update with the new data unless I open
all other files before opening the total file. I want the total file to
automatically update with the new data without opening the other files. I
could do this in our old 97 version. Any other suggestions?