Why is my excel file calling these "external" sources? How do I stop it?

[eeps24]

I have an excel file that when you open it (I did not create it) a pop up displays with a microsoft signin asking "tell us the account you want to use to open <filename>". Its as if the excel file references an external file. I have no clue what this "external file" is. It is not part of the original file. I hit close and I get the message again and its referencing different file. Again, these external files dont have anything to do with the file I want to open. This happens a bunch of times.

After I close them out, then I finally get in my file. Other than data sources, is there somewhere I can look in my excel file to see what's calling those external files?

 

[Joe4]

Is there any VBA code in this file?
Specifically, you would be looking for VBA code in the "ThisWorkbook" module in VBA.

 

[eeps24]

Is there any VBA code in this file?
Specifically, you would be looking for VBA code in the "ThisWorkbook" module in VBA.

good suggestion but I already tried it. no VBA code. It looks empty.

 

[Joe4]

Did you take a look in the Name Manager to see if there are references there?

Here are a few other articles with some good suggestions:

Manage workbook links - Microsoft Support

Linking to other workbooks is a very common task in Excel, but sometimes you might find yourself with a workbook that has links you can’t find even though Excel tells you they exist.

support.microsoft.com

How to Find External Links and References in Excel

If you want to find external links (references) in Excel, use the steps shown in this tutorials. You can use Find and Replace or Edit Links option.

trumpexcel.com

 

[Joe4]

Were you able to find it?
If so, where was it?
(just curious...)

 

[eeps24]

Were you able to find it?
If so, where was it?
(just curious...)

no, I was not able to find it yet, but thank you for the links they were good. I didnt even think about data validation or name manager. Im still stuck at the drawing board on this one.

 

[Joe4]

Shot in the dark, but what is the exact extension of the file?

 

[eeps24]

Shot in the dark, but what is the exact extension of the file?

.xlsx

 

[Joe4]

Hmm. OK. I think I am flush out of ideas then.

 

[elynoy]

That happend to me as well.
Where I work they have ms account, not sure if it's office 360 but if I try to open that file at home it asks for my work credentials. If I enter those credentials it will log my computer into ms account as my workplace user and will open the file.

Maybe this works for you as a way to find out whats happening.

Best regards