DDE Error: Cannot Obtain Data from Excel Error Message

 Last reviewed: November 2, 1994
Article ID: Q72772

SUMMARY

The error message "Cannot Obtain Data From C:\Excel\sheetname!R1C1" will occur when a document in Word for Windows has a hot link with an Excel worksheet and there is an .XLA (Excel add-in) or other file(s) in the XLSTART directory.

Workaround

Remove all .XLA files, or any other files from the XLSTART directory.

MORE INFORMATION

An Excel sheet can be linked to a Word for Windows document with a hot or a warm link. A hot link is created by clicking the Auto Update option in the dialog box that appears when you choose Paste Link from the Edit menu. When a hot link is created, reopening the document in Word for Windows will cause Word for Windows to automatically request the updated information from Excel by first starting Excel, then creating a DDE link to Excel for the original Excel sheet.

Having an .XLA file in the XLSTART directory will cause the DDE link to fail because Excel loads the file after the Excel executable has loaded and prevents Excel from completing the DDE channel with Word for Windows.

Workarounds

Take the XLA file out of the XLSTART directory or run Excel with the sheet open before opening the Word for Windows document.

Steps to Reproduce

  1. Put an XLA (add-In) file in the XLSTART directory. (Any file will do.)

  2. Start Word for Windows and Excel 3.00.

  3. Open a sheet in Excel. Select a cell and choose Copy from the Edit menu.

  4. Switch to Word for Windows. From the Edit menu, choose Paste Link and click Auto Update. Choose OK.

  5. Exit Excel. Close the document in Word for Windows, but leave Word for Windows running.

  6. Reopen the document in Word for Windows and choose Yes to start External Automatic Links.

  7. Choose Yes when it asks Remote Data Not Accessible, Start Application Excel?

    The message "Cannot Obtain Data From C:\Excel..." appears.

  8. Take the XLA file out of the XLSTART directory and repeat steps 6 and 7. Excel should now send the requested data.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Windows Applications Working Together," pages 14-17.

"Microsoft Excel User's Guide." Version 3.0, pages 316-319.

KBCategory: kbother
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Additional reference words: noupd

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Last reviewed: November 2, 1994
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