XL: External Link in WK4 File Displays #REF! Error Value

ID: Q123262

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, when you open a Lotus 1-2-3 .wk4 file that contains a link to another file, you receive one of the following error messages: 

   Microsoft Excel 97
   ------------------

      The workbook you opened contains automatic links to information in
      another workbook. Do you want to update this workbook with changes
      made to the other workbook?

   When you click Yes, the cells are updated with the values. However, when
   you click No, the cells on the worksheet that contain a link to another
   file display the #REF! error value.

   Microsoft Excel 7.0
   -------------------

      This document contains links. Re-establish links?

   When you click Yes, the cells are updated with the values. However, when
   you click No, the cells on the worksheet that contain a link to another
   file display the #REF! error value.

   Microsoft Excel 5.0
   -------------------

      This document contains links. You can re-establish them with the
      Edit Links command.

   When you click OK, the cells on the worksheet that contain a link to
   another file display the #REF! error value.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs when you open a Lotus 1-2-3 .wk4 file that contains a link to another file, such as another Lotus 1-2-3 .wk4 file.

WORKAROUND

To update an external link in a Lotus 1-2-3 .wk4 file in Microsoft Excel, follow these steps:

1. In Microsoft Excel, open the Lotus 1-2-3 WK4 file.

2. Click OK in the dialog box that indicates that the document contains 

   links.
3. On the Edit menu, click Links.

4. In the Links dialog box, select the link that you want to update.

5. Click Update Now. 

   NOTE: If you want to open the source document, click Open. This
   also updates the external link.
To avoid this behavior, save the file in the Microsoft Excel workbook format.

MORE INFORMATION

To open a Lotus 1-2-3 .wk4 file in Microsoft Excel 5.0, obtain the Lotus 1-2-3 .wk4 file converter. The Lotus 1-2-3 .wk4 file converter is available in the "Lotus 1-2-3 WK4 File Converter" (WE1130 ) Application Note. For more information about obtaining this Application Note, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q122583
   TITLE     : XL5: Lotus 1-2-3 Release 4 for Windows File Converter
Lotus 1-2-3 is manufactured by Lotus Corporation, a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

REFERENCES

"Lotus 1-2-3 WK4 File Converter" Readme.txt

For more information about updating source data, click the Index tab in Microsoft Excel Help, type the following text 

   source data
and then double-click the selected text to go to the " Update a link to data on your intranet or the Internet" topic.

Additional query words: 5.00 5.00c release 5 7.00 8.00 xl97 

Keywords          : kb3rdparty kbualink97 xl123Quattro 
Version           : WINDOWS:97,7.0,5.0,5.0c
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: January 8, 1999