WD98: Can't Use Paste Link Option with Excel Picture

• Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Paste Link option in Microsoft Word to paste a Microsoft Excel picture, you may receive the following error message:

   The remote data (<path to file>) is not accessible. Do you want to start
   the application Excel?

   Word cannot obtain data from Excel for <path to file>...

   {DDEAUTO Excel "Macintosh HD:[Excel Filename]Sheet1 Chart1" usu \p}

CAUSE

This problem occurs when you use Copy Picture on the Edit menu in Microsoft Excel. (To see the Copy Picture command, hold down the SHIFT key and click Edit.) Once you click Copy Picture, you will be presented with the following choices:

   Appearance

    - As shown on screen
    - As shown when printed

   Size

    - As shown on screen
    - As shown when printed

WORKAROUND

In Microsoft Excel, do not copy your selection by using Copy Picture on the Edit menu. Instead, follow these steps to link to the Excel object:

1. In Microsoft Excel, select the items you want to link to.

2. On the Edit menu, click Copy.

3. Start Word and position the insertion point in the location where you want to create the link.

4. On the Edit menu, click Paste Special.

5. Click the Paste Link button, make a choice of the type of item you want to paste, and then click OK.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.