Control when links are updated - Excel - Microsoft Office Online

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Control when links are updated

Applies to: Microsoft Office Excel 2003

The control of how linked information is updated in Microsoft Excel is dependent on the type of link used.

Links to other workbooks

The workbook that contains the links is called the destination workbook (destination file: The file that a linked or embedded object is inserted into. The source file contains the information that is used to create the object. When you change information in a destination file, the information is not updated in the source file.), and the workbook that is linked to is called the source workbook (source file: The file that contains information that was used to create a linked or embedded object. When you update the information in the source file, you can also update the linked object in the destination file.). When both the source workbook and the destination workbook are open, links are updated automatically. When you open a destination workbook, and the source workbook is not open, you are asked whether to update the links using a startup prompt. You can control whether or not the prompt appears, and whether or not to update all links when the prompt does not appear. You can also update only some of the links, if the workbook contains more than one.

Show Update all links or no links in a workbook

Close all workbooks. If one source workbook is left open, and others are closed, the updates will not be uniform.
Open the workbook that contains the links.
To update the links, click Update.
To not update the links, click Don't Update.

For help deciding which button to click, click Help.

Show Update only some of the links to other workbooks

Close all workbooks.
Open the workbook that contains the links.
When asked whether to update links, click Don't Update.
On the Edit menu, click Links.
In the Source list, click the linked object you want to update.
To select multiple linked objects, hold down CTRL and click each linked object.

To select all linked objects, press CTRL+A.
Click Update Values.

Show Control the startup prompt for updating all links

Show Don't ask whether to update links when I open any workbook, and update links automatically

This option is for the current user only, and affects every workbook opened. Other users of the workbook are not affected. This option also affects links to other programs.

On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Edit tab.
Clear the Ask to update automatic links check box. If the box is cleared, the links are automatically updated, and no prompt is displayed.

Show Don't ask to update links for this workbook, and let me control whether links are updated

Warning This option affects all users of the workbook. If you choose to not update links, and not to prompt, users of the workbook will not know the data is out of date.

On Edit menu, click Links.
Click Startup Prompt.
Select the option you want.

Note You will still be notified if there are any broken links.

Links to other programs

These options are for links to other programs that use OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) (OLE: A program-integration technology that you can use to share information between programs. All Office programs support OLE, so you can share information through linked and embedded objects.) or DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange) (Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE): An established protocol for exchanging data between Microsoft Windows-based programs.).

Links to other programs can be set to be updated automatically (when you open the destination file (destination file: The file that a linked or embedded object is inserted into. The source file contains the information that is used to create the object. When you change information in a destination file, the information is not updated in the source file.) or any time the source file (source file: The file that contains information that was used to create a linked or embedded object. When you update the information in the source file, you can also update the linked object in the destination file.) changes while the destination file is open) or manually (you specifically request the update). By default, new links are set to automatic updating. Set a link to update manually when you want to see the previous data before updating to the new data.

Show Set a link to another program to be updated manually

On the Edit menu, click Links.
The Links command is unavailable if your file does not contain linked information.
In the Source list, click the linked object you want to update. An A in the Update column means the link is automatic, and a M in the Update column means the link is set to Manual update.
- To select multiple linked objects, hold down CTRL and click each linked object.
- To select all linked objects, press CTRL+A.
To update a linked object only when you click Update Values, click Manual.

Show Set a link to another program to be updated automatically

On the Edit menu, click Links.
The Links command is unavailable if your file does not contain linked information.
In the Source list, click the linked object you want to update. An A in the Update column means the link is automatic, and a M in the Update column means the link is set to Manual update.
- To select multiple linked objects, hold down CTRL and click each linked object.
- To select all linked objects, press CTRL+A.
To update a linked object every time you open the file that contains the object or any time the original information changes while the file is open, click Automatic.
Click OK.
On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Calculation tab.
Make sure the Update remote references check box is selected.

Show Ignore automatic updates for links to other programs

This setting applies only for the current session of Excel. The next time you open the workbook, the prompt to update links overrides this setting.

Switch to the worksheet that contains the links.
On the Tools menu, click Options.
On the Calculation tab, clear the Update remote references check box.
Note Clearing the check box overrides the Automatic option (for all links) in the Links dialog box (Edit menu), but does not change the option to Manual.

Show Update a link to another program now

This procedure updates a linked object at any time regardless of whether automatic or manual updating is turned on.

On the Edit menu, click Links.
The Links command is unavailable if your file does not contain linked information.
In the Source list, click the linked object you want to update.
- To select multiple linked objects, hold down CTRL and click each linked object.
- To select all linked objects, press CTRL+A.
Click Update Values.

Show Don't ask whether to update links when I open any workbook, and update links automatically

This option is for the current user only, and affects every workbook opened. Other users of the workbook are not affected. This option also affects links to other workbooks.

On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Edit tab.
Clear the Ask to update automatic links check box. If the box is cleared, the links are automatically updated, and no prompt is displayed.