Link address keeps changing.

[RockStone]

Last week I spend a few days inserting links in my Excel to both photos and .pdf files.

This was done by Insert => Link, Links => Insert link.

I am taken to Edit Hyperlink dialog box and find the file that I want the link for. In the Text to display: I change it as the full link address is too long. => Click OK and all is fine .....until next day.

Clicking on the link in the cell my browser window opens with the message 404 FILE NOT FOUND

Then I tried to another way to insert the link by opening the folder with the .jpeg file Right click file => Copy link and manually insert this link into excel cell.  Msg next day:

HTTP/1.1 200 OK

Server: Microsoft-IIS/10.0

Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2024 12:24:19 GMT

Connection: close

 I have talked to MS Support who could only try to give me the work around that did not work after all. Was informed to contact https://serviceshub.microsoft.com/home but the login page is not working. MS Support agent is aware issue, but I don't have an answer yet - and I need to have my work done.

Anyone else out there experiencing the same issue?

[#2]

@RockStone 

M365 apps don't handle direct links to files on network shares, cloud locations, and other web based hosts well. This was also the case with Office pre-365 in my experience. The problem with this issue is once the links are broken, they have to be rebuilt - there's no magic fix.

You may have also noticed this problem does not usually affect links pointing to folder locations and not specific files.

There are two workarounds I've used over the years.

**Might prevent links from breaking - disable update links on save:

**Will prevent links from breaking - set a hyperlink base for the workbook

Please see - "Set the base address for the links in a workbook"
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/work-with-links-in-excel-7fc80d8d-68f9-482f-ab01-584c44d7...

For the photo links, you could use the IMAGE function to pull the images (If it fits your situations and the photos are not stored behind a login wall).

[#3]

Thanks. Will give it a shot and let you know.

[#4]

I did some testing over the week and inserted links by using 5 different ways.
1. Insert link => Insert link and changed the Text to display
2. same way, but without changing the Text to display
3. From local folder with images I right clicked image and Copy Link => Ctrl + V in cell
4. Office.com => OneDrive => My Files => [folder location] => photo => more actions => details => More details => Path => copy path => Ctrl V into cell
5. Office.com => OneDrive => My Files => [Folder location] => photo => more actions => Copy link => Ctrl V into cell

After opening and closing work book several time all the 5 ways works.
Looking at your Advanced > Web options =>Files => the Update links on save was checked already.
In other words it works for now, BUT I am delirious about continuing the massive work only to have it wiped out later.

[#5]

Glad it's working so far.

BTW - I recommend unchecking the 'update links option'. It seems when links do break they break as the result of being updated on save. That's my theory anyways.