XL5: Updating Links to 5.0 Files Takes Considerably Longer

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 5.0

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel version 5.0, it takes considerably longer to update links to a version 5.0 file than it takes to update links to a version 4.0 file. Additionally, it takes considerably longer in 5.0 than it takes in Microsoft Excel version 4.0 to update links to a version 4.0 file.

CAUSE

When you update a link in a version 5.0 workbook to another version 5.0 file to return a large number of values, the link takes a long time to update. The amount of time it takes is greater than the amount of time it takes to update a link to a version 4.0 file.

WORKAROUNDS

To decrease the amount of time it takes to update links to a Microsoft Excel version 5.0 file, do the following:

• Open the linked (supporting) files before you open the workbook file that contains the links.

  Note that this workaround gives the best results.

• Save the linked (supporting) files to the Microsoft Excel 4.0 file format.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was corrected in Microsoft Excel version 5.0c.

REFERENCES

For an Overview Of Linking Microsoft Excel Workbooks, choose the Search button in Help and type:

   linking, workbooks