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wouter.scheerlinck's avatar
wouter.scheerlinck
Copper Contributor
Aug 02, 2017
Solved

Remove link

Hi all,   In a Excel book, I have a not removable link to a not exsisting xlsm file. I tried to remove it with "Break Link", but it doesn't work. Some suggestions? Thnx!
excel
  • SergeiBaklan's avatar
    SergeiBaklan
    Aug 02, 2017

    Hi Wouter,

     

    Links could be in many places - named ranges, data validation, macros, conditional formatting rules. There are some third party utilities to find links. Never used them, thus can't recommend, google will help, for example https://www.extendoffice.com/documents/excel/953-excel-list-all-links.html.

     

    If you have Inquire in your veriosn of Excel you may start from it to analyse workbook.

wouter.scheerlinck's avatar
wouter.scheerlinck
Copper Contributor
Aug 02, 2017

Hi Balakrisna,

 

That's part of the problem, I think. There are no cells links to this external file.

When I start a search with ".xl", it gives no result.

Deleted's avatar
Deleted
Aug 03, 2017

Hi Wouter,

Can you try recalculating the entire workbook using the key combination "CTRL + SHIFT + F9" and then check to see if the link still shows up in the "Edit Links" dialogue.

 

Thanks,

Balakrishna

  • Arielle_B's avatar
    Arielle_B
    Copper Contributor
    May 09, 2019

    I am having the same issue and can't locate the link in the workbook anywhere. It's not showing in Name Manager and when I try to break the link it doesn't work. Deleted 

    • Deleted's avatar
      Deleted
      May 09, 2019

      Arielle_B 

      Try the below:
      1. Place the cursor on the cell that has the link. Press F9 key. Press Enter key

      2.  Search in Formulas for ".xl" or "["

      3. Check in Name Manager. This anyhow you confirmed.

      4. check the above in any Hidden and VeryHidden worksheets.

      5. Check Cells having Conditional Formatting

      6. Check Cells having Data Validation
      7. Change file extension to .zip. Extract the zip. Search for reference in .xml files...…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………......……………………………………………………………………………………………….....……...…...…………...………………………………...……...…………............………………...………...…......……………...…...…………………………...…………...……...………...…...….............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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