ACC: Updates to Linked Excel Workbook Don't Appear in Excel

• Microsoft Access versions 7.0, 97

SYMPTOMS

Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

Updates you make to a linked Microsoft Excel workbook do not show up when you open the workbook in Microsoft Excel 97.

CAUSE

The workbook you are linking to was saved in Microsoft Excel 97 in the "Microsoft Excel 97 & 5.0/95 Workbook" format.

RESOLUTION

If you need to link to a Microsoft Excel 97 workbook from Microsoft Access 97, do not save the workbook in the "Microsoft Excel 97 & 5.0/95 Workbook" format.

MORE INFORMATION

When Microsoft Access links to a Microsoft Excel workbook that has been saved in the "Microsoft Excel 97 & 5.0/95 Workbook" format, it only writes changes to the Microsoft Excel 95 version of the workbook.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

1. Create a workbook in Microsoft Excel 97 as follows:

         A1: abc
         A2: def
   

2. On the File menu, click Save As.

3. In the File Name box, type Book1.xls.

4. In the Save As Type box, select "Microsoft Excel 97 & 5.0/95 Workbook (*.xls)" and click OK.

5. Quit Microsoft Excel.

6. In Microsoft Access 97, create a link to the Book1.xls file.

7. Change the abc in cell A1: to xyz.

8. Quit Microsoft Access.

9. Open Book1.xls in Microsoft Excel 97. Note that cell A1: still shows abc and not xyz. However, if you open the linked table in Microsoft Access, it will show xyz.

REFERENCES

For more information about the "Microsoft Excel 97 & 5.0/95 Workbook" format, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q157497
   TITLE     : XL97: Using the Microsoft Excel 97 & 5.0/95 Workbook Format