Links won't update unless files are actually opened

Having a tough time working with a linked file. I created a summary report
that links to multiple unique separate worksheets. Links will not update
(even if all varieties of F9 are tried [shift, ctrl, etc]) unless the
individual files are open also. All files are stored on my laptop's hard
drive, and are not mapped to any network drive.

I know that is NOT the way the links are supposed to work, as I have used
links many many times before. However, is there some trick to Office 2003
that I am missing?

Brett,

In your linked work book, have you tried

>Edit >Links >Update Values

HTH

Michael


"BretJacobs" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Having a tough time working with a linked file. I created a summary
> report
> that links to multiple unique separate worksheets. Links will not
> update
> (even if all varieties of F9 are tried [shift, ctrl, etc]) unless the
> individual files are open also. All files are stored on my laptop's hard
> drive, and are not mapped to any network drive.
>
> I know that is NOT the way the links are supposed to work, as I have used
> links many many times before. However, is there some trick to Office 2003
> that I am missing?

If the calculation under Tools | Options is already set to automatic, try
going to Edit | Links and make sure Update is selected as Automatic. Also
check the Startup Prompt there to make sure it's not selected as Don't
display the altert and don't update automatic links.

-Simon


"BretJacobs" wrote:

> Having a tough time working with a linked file. I created a summary report
> that links to multiple unique separate worksheets. Links will not update
> (even if all varieties of F9 are tried [shift, ctrl, etc]) unless the
> individual files are open also. All files are stored on my laptop's hard
> drive, and are not mapped to any network drive.
>
> I know that is NOT the way the links are supposed to work, as I have used
> links many many times before. However, is there some trick to Office 2003
> that I am missing?

Yes I have, and to the other reply, yes the Update dialog box shows when the
file is first opened.

If I try ">Edit >Links >Update Values", with the source files unopened, all
of the values go to #Ref, and from the "Edit, Links" menu, the status shows
"Error: Source not found".

Opening the source workbooks then causes all of the references to update,
automatically.

The source workbooks are Exports from Crystal Reports, could that have
anything to do with it?

"Michael" wrote:

> Brett,
>
> In your linked work book, have you tried
>
> >Edit >Links >Update Values
>
> HTH
>
> Michael
>
>
> "BretJacobs" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Having a tough time working with a linked file. I created a summary
> > report
> > that links to multiple unique separate worksheets. Links will not
> > update
> > (even if all varieties of F9 are tried [shift, ctrl, etc]) unless the
> > individual files are open also. All files are stored on my laptop's hard
> > drive, and are not mapped to any network drive.
> >
> > I know that is NOT the way the links are supposed to work, as I have used
> > links many many times before. However, is there some trick to Office 2003
> > that I am missing?
>
>
>

The export file from Crystal Reports, is it an Excel file? or is it like csv
file and such? I think if it's not an Excel file, it wouldn't recognize the
cell structure until opened.

-Simon


"BretJacobs" wrote:

> Yes I have, and to the other reply, yes the Update dialog box shows when the
> file is first opened.
>
> If I try ">Edit >Links >Update Values", with the source files unopened, all
> of the values go to #Ref, and from the "Edit, Links" menu, the status shows
> "Error: Source not found".
>
> Opening the source workbooks then causes all of the references to update,
> automatically.
>
> The source workbooks are Exports from Crystal Reports, could that have
> anything to do with it?
>
> "Michael" wrote:
>
> > Brett,
> >
> > In your linked work book, have you tried
> >
> > >Edit >Links >Update Values
> >
> > HTH
> >
> > Michael
> >
> >
> > "BretJacobs" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > Having a tough time working with a linked file. I created a summary
> > > report
> > > that links to multiple unique separate worksheets. Links will not
> > > update
> > > (even if all varieties of F9 are tried [shift, ctrl, etc]) unless the
> > > individual files are open also. All files are stored on my laptop's hard
> > > drive, and are not mapped to any network drive.
> > >
> > > I know that is NOT the way the links are supposed to work, as I have used
> > > links many many times before. However, is there some trick to Office 2003
> > > that I am missing?
> >
> >
> >

The export file is an excel worsksheet (the result of a Crystal Reports
export to excel), and it has an .xls extension.



"SimonCC" wrote:

> The export file from Crystal Reports, is it an Excel file? or is it like csv
> file and such? I think if it's not an Excel file, it wouldn't recognize the
> cell structure until opened.
>
> -Simon
>
>
> "BretJacobs" wrote:
>
> > Yes I have, and to the other reply, yes the Update dialog box shows when the
> > file is first opened.
> >
> > If I try ">Edit >Links >Update Values", with the source files unopened, all
> > of the values go to #Ref, and from the "Edit, Links" menu, the status shows
> > "Error: Source not found".
> >
> > Opening the source workbooks then causes all of the references to update,
> > automatically.
> >
> > The source workbooks are Exports from Crystal Reports, could that have
> > anything to do with it?
> >
> > "Michael" wrote:
> >
> > > Brett,
> > >
> > > In your linked work book, have you tried
> > >
> > > >Edit >Links >Update Values
> > >
> > > HTH
> > >
> > > Michael
> > >
> > >
> > > "BretJacobs" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > > news:[email protected]...
> > > > Having a tough time working with a linked file. I created a summary
> > > > report
> > > > that links to multiple unique separate worksheets. Links will not
> > > > update
> > > > (even if all varieties of F9 are tried [shift, ctrl, etc]) unless the
> > > > individual files are open also. All files are stored on my laptop's hard
> > > > drive, and are not mapped to any network drive.
> > > >
> > > > I know that is NOT the way the links are supposed to work, as I have used
> > > > links many many times before. However, is there some trick to Office 2003
> > > > that I am missing?
> > >
> > >
> > >

My only guess is that the export file is not the exact proper excel format
even though it has an .xls extension. How about opening one of the exported
files, and save it over as type Microsoft Office Excel Workbook with the same
name. Then close that export file and open your summary report file to see
if it would update. If that doesn't work I don't really know what else to
recommend.

-Simon


"BretJacobs" wrote:

> The export file is an excel worsksheet (the result of a Crystal Reports
> export to excel), and it has an .xls extension.
>
>
>
> "SimonCC" wrote:
>
> > The export file from Crystal Reports, is it an Excel file? or is it like csv
> > file and such? I think if it's not an Excel file, it wouldn't recognize the
> > cell structure until opened.
> >
> > -Simon
> >
> >
> > "BretJacobs" wrote:
> >
> > > Yes I have, and to the other reply, yes the Update dialog box shows when the
> > > file is first opened.
> > >
> > > If I try ">Edit >Links >Update Values", with the source files unopened, all
> > > of the values go to #Ref, and from the "Edit, Links" menu, the status shows
> > > "Error: Source not found".
> > >
> > > Opening the source workbooks then causes all of the references to update,
> > > automatically.
> > >
> > > The source workbooks are Exports from Crystal Reports, could that have
> > > anything to do with it?
> > >
> > > "Michael" wrote:
> > >
> > > > Brett,
> > > >
> > > > In your linked work book, have you tried
> > > >
> > > > >Edit >Links >Update Values
> > > >
> > > > HTH
> > > >
> > > > Michael
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "BretJacobs" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > > > news:[email protected]...
> > > > > Having a tough time working with a linked file. I created a summary
> > > > > report
> > > > > that links to multiple unique separate worksheets. Links will not
> > > > > update
> > > > > (even if all varieties of F9 are tried [shift, ctrl, etc]) unless the
> > > > > individual files are open also. All files are stored on my laptop's hard
> > > > > drive, and are not mapped to any network drive.
> > > > >
> > > > > I know that is NOT the way the links are supposed to work, as I have used
> > > > > links many many times before. However, is there some trick to Office 2003
> > > > > that I am missing?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >

Simon,

Believe it or not, simply opening the exported file then saving it (without
renaming or otherwise manipulating anything) yields the expected result.

It must be something in the export process. I'll try and discover exactly
what the export options are on the Crystal Export, to see if we can nail down
the exact problem.

Who knew? Unfortunately there are 52 input files, so that's not an option
to open them all each time we do an update.

Oh well, thanks for your help!!!

"SimonCC" wrote:

> My only guess is that the export file is not the exact proper excel format
> even though it has an .xls extension. How about opening one of the exported
> files, and save it over as type Microsoft Office Excel Workbook with the same
> name. Then close that export file and open your summary report file to see
> if it would update. If that doesn't work I don't really know what else to
> recommend.
>
> -Simon
>
>
> "BretJacobs" wrote:
>
> > The export file is an excel worsksheet (the result of a Crystal Reports
> > export to excel), and it has an .xls extension.
> >
> >
> >
> > "SimonCC" wrote:
> >
> > > The export file from Crystal Reports, is it an Excel file? or is it like csv
> > > file and such? I think if it's not an Excel file, it wouldn't recognize the
> > > cell structure until opened.
> > >
> > > -Simon
> > >
> > >
> > > "BretJacobs" wrote:
> > >
> > > > Yes I have, and to the other reply, yes the Update dialog box shows when the
> > > > file is first opened.
> > > >
> > > > If I try ">Edit >Links >Update Values", with the source files unopened, all
> > > > of the values go to #Ref, and from the "Edit, Links" menu, the status shows
> > > > "Error: Source not found".
> > > >
> > > > Opening the source workbooks then causes all of the references to update,
> > > > automatically.
> > > >
> > > > The source workbooks are Exports from Crystal Reports, could that have
> > > > anything to do with it?
> > > >
> > > > "Michael" wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Brett,
> > > > >
> > > > > In your linked work book, have you tried
> > > > >
> > > > > >Edit >Links >Update Values
> > > > >
> > > > > HTH
> > > > >
> > > > > Michael
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > "BretJacobs" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > > > > news:[email protected]...
> > > > > > Having a tough time working with a linked file. I created a summary
> > > > > > report
> > > > > > that links to multiple unique separate worksheets. Links will not
> > > > > > update
> > > > > > (even if all varieties of F9 are tried [shift, ctrl, etc]) unless the
> > > > > > individual files are open also. All files are stored on my laptop's hard
> > > > > > drive, and are not mapped to any network drive.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I know that is NOT the way the links are supposed to work, as I have used
> > > > > > links many many times before. However, is there some trick to Office 2003
> > > > > > that I am missing?
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >

I haven't used Crystal Report before so I don't know how exactly the export
process goes. You can try to look for an option where it specifies what
version of Excel to export to. If there is such a thing, hopefully your
version of Excel is on the list. Otherwise you might have to look for
upgrades to your Crystal Report for compatibility to the latest version of
Excel (or up to the Excel version you're using).

An alternate way is to write a macro that opens and saves each of your many
export files.

-Simon


"BretJacobs" wrote:

> Simon,
>
> Believe it or not, simply opening the exported file then saving it (without
> renaming or otherwise manipulating anything) yields the expected result.
>
> It must be something in the export process. I'll try and discover exactly
> what the export options are on the Crystal Export, to see if we can nail down
> the exact problem.
>
> Who knew? Unfortunately there are 52 input files, so that's not an option
> to open them all each time we do an update.
>
> Oh well, thanks for your help!!!
>
> "SimonCC" wrote:
>
> > My only guess is that the export file is not the exact proper excel format
> > even though it has an .xls extension. How about opening one of the exported
> > files, and save it over as type Microsoft Office Excel Workbook with the same
> > name. Then close that export file and open your summary report file to see
> > if it would update. If that doesn't work I don't really know what else to
> > recommend.
> >
> > -Simon
> >
> >
> > "BretJacobs" wrote:
> >
> > > The export file is an excel worsksheet (the result of a Crystal Reports
> > > export to excel), and it has an .xls extension.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > "SimonCC" wrote:
> > >
> > > > The export file from Crystal Reports, is it an Excel file? or is it like csv
> > > > file and such? I think if it's not an Excel file, it wouldn't recognize the
> > > > cell structure until opened.
> > > >
> > > > -Simon
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "BretJacobs" wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Yes I have, and to the other reply, yes the Update dialog box shows when the
> > > > > file is first opened.
> > > > >
> > > > > If I try ">Edit >Links >Update Values", with the source files unopened, all
> > > > > of the values go to #Ref, and from the "Edit, Links" menu, the status shows
> > > > > "Error: Source not found".
> > > > >
> > > > > Opening the source workbooks then causes all of the references to update,
> > > > > automatically.
> > > > >
> > > > > The source workbooks are Exports from Crystal Reports, could that have
> > > > > anything to do with it?
> > > > >
> > > > > "Michael" wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > Brett,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > In your linked work book, have you tried
> > > > > >
> > > > > > >Edit >Links >Update Values
> > > > > >
> > > > > > HTH
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Michael
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "BretJacobs" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > > > > > news:[email protected]...
> > > > > > > Having a tough time working with a linked file. I created a summary
> > > > > > > report
> > > > > > > that links to multiple unique separate worksheets. Links will not
> > > > > > > update
> > > > > > > (even if all varieties of F9 are tried [shift, ctrl, etc]) unless the
> > > > > > > individual files are open also. All files are stored on my laptop's hard
> > > > > > > drive, and are not mapped to any network drive.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I know that is NOT the way the links are supposed to work, as I have used
> > > > > > > links many many times before. However, is there some trick to Office 2003
> > > > > > > that I am missing?
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >

Bret,

I'm working on an "Update Links" issue that sounds similar to what you're
doing. It will effectively open each workbook in a designated path
(allowing them to update) then close them. Here's the macro code I'm
working with:

Put this in a general module of a workbook

sub UpdateAllLinks()
Dim vLinkSources
Dim iLinkSource As Integer
Dim AnySheet As Worksheet
sPath = "C:\MyDummy\"
sName = Dir(sPath & "*.xls")
do while sName <> ""
set bk = Workbook.Open(sPath & sName)
For Each AnySheet In ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets
ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets(AnySheet.Name) _
.Unprotect Password:="mypassword"
Next
vLinkSources = ActiveWorkbook.LinkSources(xlExcelLinks)
If Not IsEmpty(vLinkSources) Then
For iLinkSource = LBound(vLinkSources) To UBound(vLinkSources)
ActiveWorkbook.UpdateLink _
vLinkSources(iLinkSource), xlExcelLinks
Next
End If
For Each AnySheet In ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets
ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets(AnySheet.Name) _
.Protect Password:="mypassword"
Next
bk.Close Savechanges:=True
sName = Dir()
Loop
End Sub

Put a command button on a worksheet in that workbook. Double click on it to
get to the code

Private Sub CommandButton1_click()
UpdateAllLinks
End sub

NOTE: If you're workbooks aren't password protected, you can do away with
the "Unprotect/Protect" portion of the code. I'm still trying to iron-out a
couple of problems, but I'll let you know when I get it to work right.

HTH


"SimonCC" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I haven't used Crystal Report before so I don't know how exactly the export
> process goes. You can try to look for an option where it specifies what
> version of Excel to export to. If there is such a thing, hopefully your
> version of Excel is on the list. Otherwise you might have to look for
> upgrades to your Crystal Report for compatibility to the latest version of
> Excel (or up to the Excel version you're using).
>
> An alternate way is to write a macro that opens and saves each of your
> many
> export files.
>
> -Simon
>
>
> "BretJacobs" wrote:
>
>> Simon,
>>
>> Believe it or not, simply opening the exported file then saving it
>> (without
>> renaming or otherwise manipulating anything) yields the expected result.
>>
>> It must be something in the export process. I'll try and discover
>> exactly
>> what the export options are on the Crystal Export, to see if we can nail
>> down
>> the exact problem.
>>
>> Who knew? Unfortunately there are 52 input files, so that's not an
>> option
>> to open them all each time we do an update.
>>
>> Oh well, thanks for your help!!!
>>
>> "SimonCC" wrote:
>>
>> > My only guess is that the export file is not the exact proper excel
>> > format
>> > even though it has an .xls extension. How about opening one of the
>> > exported
>> > files, and save it over as type Microsoft Office Excel Workbook with
>> > the same
>> > name. Then close that export file and open your summary report file to
>> > see
>> > if it would update. If that doesn't work I don't really know what else
>> > to
>> > recommend.
>> >
>> > -Simon
>> >
>> >
>> > "BretJacobs" wrote:
>> >
>> > > The export file is an excel worsksheet (the result of a Crystal
>> > > Reports
>> > > export to excel), and it has an .xls extension.
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > "SimonCC" wrote:
>> > >
>> > > > The export file from Crystal Reports, is it an Excel file? or is it
>> > > > like csv
>> > > > file and such? I think if it's not an Excel file, it wouldn't
>> > > > recognize the
>> > > > cell structure until opened.
>> > > >
>> > > > -Simon
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > > "BretJacobs" wrote:
>> > > >
>> > > > > Yes I have, and to the other reply, yes the Update dialog box
>> > > > > shows when the
>> > > > > file is first opened.
>> > > > >
>> > > > > If I try ">Edit >Links >Update Values", with the source files
>> > > > > unopened, all
>> > > > > of the values go to #Ref, and from the "Edit, Links" menu, the
>> > > > > status shows
>> > > > > "Error: Source not found".
>> > > > >
>> > > > > Opening the source workbooks then causes all of the references to
>> > > > > update,
>> > > > > automatically.
>> > > > >
>> > > > > The source workbooks are Exports from Crystal Reports, could that
>> > > > > have
>> > > > > anything to do with it?
>> > > > >
>> > > > > "Michael" wrote:
>> > > > >
>> > > > > > Brett,
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > In your linked work book, have you tried
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > >Edit >Links >Update Values
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > HTH
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > Michael
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > > "BretJacobs" <[email protected]> wrote in
>> > > > > > message
>> > > > > > news:[email protected]...
>> > > > > > > Having a tough time working with a linked file. I created a
>> > > > > > > summary
>> > > > > > > report
>> > > > > > > that links to multiple unique separate worksheets. Links
>> > > > > > > will not
>> > > > > > > update
>> > > > > > > (even if all varieties of F9 are tried [shift, ctrl, etc])
>> > > > > > > unless the
>> > > > > > > individual files are open also. All files are stored on my
>> > > > > > > laptop's hard
>> > > > > > > drive, and are not mapped to any network drive.
>> > > > > > >
>> > > > > > > I know that is NOT the way the links are supposed to work, as
>> > > > > > > I have used
>> > > > > > > links many many times before. However, is there some trick
>> > > > > > > to Office 2003
>> > > > > > > that I am missing?
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > >
>> > > > > >