External Links

[MikeG]

I thought I understood how external links work, but I am having some problems.

Here's what I thought happens:

If I create a workbook A that inlcudes some formulas that refer to another workbook (called B) and then save A and send it to someone else who does not have B, then that person will still be able to see the values that result from formulas referring to B OK, and would not have a problem unless that person requested External Links to be updated.

However, I just created such a workbook and the person I sent it to opened it up and there were a whole bunch of #N/As on any formulas referring to B. They did not request the links to be updated.

Can anyone help explain?

Thanks,

MikeG

 

[VoG]

You either need to include workbook B or send a version without external links.

 

[MikeG]

You either need to include workbook B or send a version without external links.

Thanks VoG.

It's funny, because in some or indeed most cases, when I send a workbook, there's no problem - the person see the values, not #N/A. I wonder why sometimes it is an issue, and sometimes not.

 

[MikeG]

Just out of interest, I experimented, and it seems like the type of formula is the issue.

So for example, when I have a formula that simply says the value of a cell in workbook A equals the value of a cell in workbook B, then the link does not cause a problem when B is no longer in the same location as A.

But when I put the formula CELL("Col",Some Cell In B) into a cell in workbook B then the cell shows #N/A.

Can anyone confirm this, and if so, know what type of formulas cause the issue?

Thanks,

MikeG