Forum Discussion
The #REF! error shows when a formula refers to a cell that’s not valid .
I would be happy to know if I could help.
- NikolinoDEJan 19, 2022Gold Contributor
Links to data tables residing in external files display #REF!
Symptoms
Consider the following scenario:
1. You insert a table in an Excel file, named for example source.xlsx.
2. In another file, named for example destination.xlsx, you insert a link to the data table which resides in source.xlsx.
3. You close both source.xlsx and destination.xlsx.
4. You open destination.xlsx and you choose to update links when prompted.
Result: the cells that are linked to the external data table display #REF!.Cause
This is expected behavior for Excel.
New references to external workbooks that aren’t open will successfully parse without verifying the reference, but will return #REF.
When loading an external structure reference to a closed workbook, the reference is not updated by default. If you choose to calculate the formula the result is #REF! instead of the corresponding value.Resolution
Structured references require the external workbook to remain open for the formulas to work properly.
More Information
Using structured references with Excel tables
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/HA101556861033.aspx
Working with external links
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/CH010064844.aspxExamble:
=XVERWEIS([@Name];Datasource.xlsx!tbl_Schring[Name];Datasource.xlsx!tbl_Schring[Schring])
Example: Both files located in the same folder are closed.
Only the target file is opened.
The result: error messages for all formulas that have a file reference from a file that is close.
replace the covers, so
Datasource.xlsx!tbl_Schring[Name]
through
[Datasource.xlsx]Source!$A:$A
- Trill14nAug 24, 2023Copper ContributorThank you for this answer as I was having the same issue. I don't like the answer but appreciate it all the same.