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Ed Kubisa's avatar
Ed Kubisa
Copper Contributor
Jan 17, 2018

External data connections are removed

Hi,

 

A file of mine is seemingly corrupted and gives the following error on opening: "Removed Records: External connections from /xl/connection.xml part (Data connection)"

 

My setup is as follows:

  • datasource.xlsx: consists of 2 sheets, using powerquery tables in each (pulling data from an SQL server). This file works, can be refreshed, etc. All good.

  • dashboard.xlsx: consists of 2 pivot tables, each of which link back to the datasource file/tables.

Everything was working. But now, when I refresh the pivot (which works and updates), the next time I open the file it gives the external connection error (and thus removes the connections killing the file).

If I don't refresh the pivot, I can continue to use the file.

 

How can I troubleshoot this? I know I can checkout the XML files - but I don't really know what I need to be correcting here...

excel
  • Ed Kubisa's avatar
    Ed Kubisa
    Copper Contributor
    Jan 18, 2018

    After further troubleshooting, I've narrowed the problem down to this:

    - if I make standard pivot tables, it's fine
    - once I add the datamodel function, it breaks

    if I keep the pivot table (with data model) in the same file as the source data, then it works.

    I really don't understand why it won't work across linked files (because it did in the past) - but I'll just have to work with this now.

  • sfear__'s avatar
    sfear__
    Copper Contributor
    Aug 26, 2024
    Hi Ed,
    I have the same problem, since 1 month:
    - If i normally save and exit the file when I open again, I get an error on external connection and I let it to resolve then my power pivots don't work anymore.

    I cannot use standard pivot, I must use power Pivot.

    have you find a solutions?

    many thanks
    Fabrizio

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