MXL5: Links Incorrect When Source Document(s) Closed

• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, version 5.0

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel version 5.0 for the Macintosh, linked cells on your worksheet may display incorrect data. The value displayed may be zero, a very large number, or a very small number instead of the actual data.

CAUSE

This problem occurs only if the source document is closed. The problem occurs in the following cases:

Formatted Blank Cells

When the cell that you link to is preceded by multiple blank cells, and the blank cells contain some type of formatting, such as bold, the linked cell contains an incorrect value if the source document is closed.

For example, when you link to cell G1 in the following example, if cells C1:F1 contain formatting, this behavior occurs:

   A1:   B1: 23  C1:   D1:   E1:   F1:   G1: 4

Series of Integer and/or Simple Numeric Values

When the linked worksheet contains a row of integer or simple numeric values (1 or 2 decimal places), and you link to a cell in the same row that is preceded by a series of these numbers which is not an integer or simple numeric value (has more decimal places or is a formula), the linked cell contains an incorrect value if the source document is closed.

Take for example a worksheet where column A contains text entries describing the data, columns B-F contain numeric values with 2 decimal places (dollar values), and column G contains the sums of the data. When you link to any cell in column G, the incorrect value is displayed when the source document is closed.

Note that these are not all of the causes of this problem. There are other scenarios that may also cause this problem.

WORKAROUNDS

To work around this problem, use any of the following methods.

Method 1

Open the source files. This causes the linked cells to display the correct data.

Method 2

In the case of formatted blank cells, open the source worksheet, and follow these steps:

1. On the Edit menu, click Go To. Click Special.

2. Under Select, select the Blanks option, and click OK to select all of the blank cells.

3. On the Edit menu, point to Clear, and click Formats.

Method 3

Move all of the linked worksheets into one workbook.

Method 4

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 You can use the following Excel 4.0 macro to automatically add an equal 

   A1: AddEqualSigns
   A2: =FOR.CELL("curcell")
   A3: =  IF(NOT(ISBLANK(curcell)))
   A4: =    IF(NOT(GET.CELL(48,curcell)))
   A5: =      IF(NOT(ISERROR(curcell+1)))
   A6: =         FORMULA("="&curcell,curcell)
   A7: =      END.IF()
   A8: =    END.IF()
   A9: =  END.IF()
   A10: =NEXT()
   A11: =RETURN()

Notes on Macro

   A4: Get.Cell(48) returns TRUE if cell contains formula
   A5: If there's an error, cell contains Text

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 5.0a for the Macintosh.