Excel: Embedded Paintbrush Object Not Automatically Updated

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 4.0, 4.0a

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, double-clicking a linked Paintbrush image will start Paintbrush but will not automatically re-establish the link between the two programs.

CAUSE

When you copy an image from Paintbrush and paste it into Microsoft Excel, an automatic link (a link that will be instantly updated) is created between Paintbrush and Microsoft Excel. Any changes you make in Paintbrush will automatically appear in Microsoft Excel.

If you close and then re-open Paintbrush, either by running Paintbrush from Program Manager or File Manager or by double-clicking the embedded object in Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Excel does not automatically re-establish the link.

To re-establish the link, use the following workaround.

WORKAROUND

To re-establish the link between Paintbrush and Microsoft Excel:

1. In Microsoft Excel, choose Links from the File menu.

2. In the Links box, select the name of the link. The name should resemble the following:

         PBrush|C:\WINDOWS\BITMAP.BMP
   

3. Choose the Update button to re-establish the link.

4. Choose Close to close the Links dialog box.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the versions of Microsoft Excel listed above. This problem does not occur in later versions.