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mmag93's avatar
mmag93
Copper Contributor
May 20, 2023

hyperlink error

Hi 

i have a sheet i have set up for meter readings that i bill to end users. 

I have set a hyperlink up to automatically fill out the emails for me but for some reason some of them seem to be coming up with an error. 

I have found that if i alter one of the references in the body of the email that draws data from another cell then this removes the error but i cant see a fault with the formula and it is the same as many others which dont have an issue. 

Please can someone help with this 

many thanks 

M

  • NikolinoDE's avatar
    NikolinoDE
    Gold Contributor

    mmag93 

    Here are a few suggestions to troubleshoot and resolve the issue:

    1. Check the formula and cell reference: Double-check the formula and cell reference that you're using in the hyperlink. Ensure that the reference is valid and points to the correct cell containing the data you want to include in the email. Verify that the formula doesn't contain any errors or typos.
    2. Confirm the format of the data: Ensure that the data in the referenced cell has the correct format that can be properly inserted into the email. For example, if the data is expected to be text, make sure it's not formatted as a number or date.
    3. Evaluate the length and content of the data: If the data in the referenced cell is too long or contains special characters, it might cause issues with the hyperlink. Check if the data length exceeds any limitations set by the email client or if there are any characters that could potentially disrupt the hyperlink.
    4. Test with different references: Try using different cell references or formulas in the hyperlink to see if the issue persists. This can help identify if the problem is specific to the formula or the cell being referenced.
    5. Consider using VBA: If the issue persists, you might consider using VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) to create a more customized solution for filling out emails. VBA provides greater flexibility and control over the automation process, allowing you to handle any specific requirements or errors that arise.

    VBA Code Example:

    Sub CreateEmailHyperlink()
        Dim ws As Worksheet
        Dim rng As Range
        Dim cell As Range
        Dim emailSubject As String
        Dim emailBody As String
        Dim emailLink As String
        
        ' Set the worksheet and range where the email addresses are located
        Set ws = ThisWorkbook.Sheets("Sheet1")
        Set rng = ws.Range("A1:A10") ' Update with your range
        
        ' Loop through each cell in the range
        For Each cell In rng
            ' Get the email address, subject, and body from other cells
            emailSubject = cell.Offset(0, 1).Value ' Assumes subject is in the next column (B)
            emailBody = cell.Offset(0, 2).Value ' Assumes body is in the next column (C)
            
            ' Construct the email link
            emailLink = "mailto:" & cell.Value & "?subject=" & emailSubject & "&body=" & emailBody
            
            ' Create the hyperlink in the current cell
            cell.Hyperlinks.Add Anchor:=cell, Address:=emailLink, TextToDisplay:=cell.Value
        Next cell
    End Sub

    Make sure to customize the code further based on your specific requirements, such as handling error conditions or adjusting the range and column offsets as needed.

     

    If none of these suggestions solve the problem, please provide more specific details about the formula and hyperlink setup and any error messages. This will help in further diagnosing the issue and providing a more targeted solution. Additional information such as Excel version, operating system, storage medium and, if possible/necessary, the file (without sensitive data) or photos with a step-by-step (cell by cell) explanation of the problem would be very helpful.

    • mmag93's avatar
      mmag93
      Copper Contributor
      Hi Nikolino
      thank you for this it was very helpful.
      I have not done coding before so am not comfortable with this unfortunately.
      I have just gone through the system and cant see any issues in regards to the formula but what i have noticed is that shortening the length of email address seems to clear the error.
      Is there a way i can alter the hyperlink setup to allow for extra data length in regards to the email address?
      Many thanks
      M
      • NikolinoDE's avatar
        NikolinoDE
        Gold Contributor

        The maximum length of a hyperlink address in Excel is 255 characters. This includes the protocol (e.g., "http://"), domain, path, query parameters, and any additional characters used for encoding. It's important to keep these limitation in mind when working with hyperlinks in Excel to ensure they function correctly and meet your requirements. If you encounter any issues or have specific requirements that go beyond these limitations, alternative approaches or VBA programming may be necessary.

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