How To Update Links In Excel

How to Update Excel Links

Refreshing Workbook Links

To update workbook links and obtain the latest values, refresh the links through the Workbook Links pane. Access this pane by navigating to Data > Queries and Connections > Workbook Links in Excel. Alternatively, opt for automatic refresh by selecting the Options (...) at the top right corner of the pane and choosing Refresh automatically. Remember, links must be maintained regularly, and broken links can occur if the source workbook is altered.

Managing Unused or Broken Links

When workbook links are obsolete or broken due to changes in the source workbook, they may require removal. To eliminate these links, formulas can be replaced with their current calculated values. This process is irreversible unless the Undo function is used immediately after replacement. Note that there is no built-in feature to locate all workbook links within a workbook.

Updating Links to External Workbooks

For users working with a dashboard linked to a raw data workbook, updating without opening the large source file is preferable. If the dashboard fails to update and returns a #VALUE error when the source is not open, consider keeping both workbooks open during updates. Excel does not automatically update links upon saving a workbook; the source data workbook must be open to refresh the dashboard links.

Replacing Formulas with Values

To prevent links from needing updates, convert formulas to their calculated values. This action permanently removes the formula, which is beneficial if the workbook links are no longer necessary. However, if you need to reverse this action, use the Undo command immediately after pasting the values.

Excel vs. Sourcetable: Spreadsheet Evolution

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