Linked Objects and path names

[Colin Higbie]

When I link part of an Excel spreadsheet into my Word document (both in
2003), it stores the whole path name to the linked file. This means that
even if I copy the whole folder or put it in a briefcase folder, when it's
on another computer, it thinks the original file is missing.

Is there any way to get Word to just use a relative path (relative to the
document it's working on) for linked objects, instead of demanding the full
path? That way if the two files are in the same folder, it only needs the
file name.

A work-around I've found is to go through and set the name to be the full
UNC path (e.g., \\compname\sharedfolder\linkedfile.xls). That works on both
computers, but it's a pain because I have to share the folder where my
document is, use offline files to replicate that folder to the notebook, and
I have to go back through and manually name the file for every linked object
(dozens and dozens of them).

Is there an easier way?

Thanks,
Colin

 

[Cindy M -WordMVP-]

Hi Colin,

When I link part of an Excel spreadsheet into my Word document (both in
2003), it stores the whole path name to the linked file. This means that
even if I copy the whole folder or put it in a briefcase folder, when it's
on another computer, it thinks the original file is missing.

Is there any way to get Word to just use a relative path (relative to the
document it's working on) for linked objects, instead of demanding the full
path?

No, not for linked files to an OLE application; these links requie the full
path. (It is possible, albeit a bit tricky, for including text or pictures.)

Another approach you might consider would be to place the full path in a
custom document property (File/Properties/Custom), so that you'd only have to
change it in one place. Press Alt+F9 to display the LINK fields in the
document, and replace the full path with DocProperty fields.

Another possibility would be to display the field codes, as above, and use
Find/Replace to change the path.

Lastly, you could write a macro (AutoOpen, for example) that would check the
folder name of the document, then change the path information in the Link
fields to correspond.

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004)
http://www.word.mvps.org

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[Colin Higbie]

I like the idea about using a custom field name, but when I press Alt-F9, it
doesn't show any information for the linked pics. It does change all the
other Fields to { Field text }. Is there something special I need to do to
be able to see Fields instead of the pictures?

Thanks,
Colin

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

Press Alt+F9 to toggle between field codes and field results.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

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[Colin Higbie]

That's what I'm saying - Alt-F9 changes other fields, but not the pictures.

Any other suggestions? Maybe there's something I need to set in the options
so that it will also toggle pictures or linked objects?

Thanks,
Colin

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

If the linked pictures are wrapped, you won't see the field codes unless you
temporarily change the wrapping to "In Line With Text."

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

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all may benefit.

 

[Colin Higbie]

Almost all of the pictures have been "In line with text" since I changed
them to stop bouncing around the document at random. I was starting to
write:

Still no change to text when I hit Alt-F9. What else could be the cause?

However, I closed and reopened Word and this time it worked. I have no idea
why it wasn't working before. I don't believe that I changed anything.

Thanks,
Colin

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

That's Word for you! As soon as you complain about something, it will stop
doing it just to confound you.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.