XL: Macros to Delete Formula LinksLast reviewed: March 19, 1998Article ID: Q126093 |
The information in this article applies to:
SUMMARYWhen you open a workbook that contains links to another workbook, Microsoft Excel will ask you if you want to update links. If the file that the link is referring to no longer exists, or if it has been moved to a different folder, you may want to delete the links to avoid this message.
MORE INFORMATIONOne of the most common link types is a formula link. A link formula in a cell can refer to a cell on a closed workbook file. If that file no longer exists, the formula is no longer valid. To delete such a link, click Find on the Edit menu, and search for an (!) exclamation point. This will show each link in a sheet. You can then go to each cell, delete the formula, and replace it with the value that was in the cell. If many cells contain links, deleting the links may take some time. To speed up the deletion process, you may want to use one of the following macros. The macro will enable you to delete some links and not others. NOTE: The Visual Basic Code Example is specifically for Microsoft Excel version 5.0 and later. Also, note that the Microsoft Excel 4.0 example will not work in Microsoft Excel version 5.0 and later because of the difference in the link formulas. For example, a link formula in Microsoft Excel 5.0 and later may be similar to the following
='c:\Excel\[book1.xls]sheet1'!$a$1while a Microsoft Excel 4.0 link may be similar to the following:
='c:\Excel\sheet1.xls'!$a$1Note also that these macros may not work if the source file for a link is located on a network drive. If this is the case, the link will be found but not deleted.
Visual Basic Code ExampleMicrosoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:
http://www.microsoft.com/supportnet/refguide/
Option Base 1
'This macro deletes all formula links in a workbook. ' 'This macro does not delete a worksheet formula that references an open 'book, for example: ' ' =[Book1.xls]Sheet1!$A$1 ' ' To delete only the links in the active sheet, see the comments ' provided in the Delete_It macro later in this article. Public Times As Integer Public Link_Array As Variant Sub Should_Delete() Items = 0 'initialize these names Times = 0 Link_Array = ActiveWorkbook.LinkSources 'find all document links Items = UBound(Link_Array) 'count the number of links For Times = 1 To Items 'Ask whether to delete each link Msg = "Do you want to delete this link: " & Link_Array(Times) Style = vbYesNoCancel + vbQuestion + vbDefaultButton2 Response = MsgBox(Msg, Style) If Response = vbYes Then Delete_It If Response = vbCancel Then Times = Items Next Times End Sub Sub Delete_It() Count = Len(Link_Array(Times)) For Find_Bracket = 1 To Count - 1 'Replace the "\" in the next line with a ":" if you are using 'Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh. If Mid(Link_Array(Times), Count - Find_Bracket, 1) = "\" _ Then Exit For Next Find_Bracket 'Add brackets around the file name. With_Brackets = Left(Link_Array(Times), Count - Find_Bracket) & _ "[" & Right(Link_Array(Times), Find_Bracket) & "]" 'Does the replace. 'If you want to remove links only on the active sheet, change the 'next two lines into comments by placing an (') apostrophe in front of 'them as well as the line, "Next Sheet_Select", that closes the loop. For Each Sheet_Select In ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets Sheet_Select.Activate Set Found_Link = Cells.Find(what:=With_Brackets, After:=ActiveCell, _ lookin:=xlFormulas, lookat:=xlPart, searchorder:=xlByRows, _ searchdirection:=xlNext, matchcase:=False) While UCase(TypeName(Found_Link)) <> UCase("Nothing") Found_Link.Activate On Error GoTo anarray Found_Link.Formula = Found_Link.Value Set Found_Link = Cells.FindNext(After:=ActiveCell) Wend Next Sheet_Select 'To remove links only on the active sheet 'place an (') apostrophe at the front of this line. Exit Sub anarray: Selection.CurrentArray.Select Selection.Copy Selection.PasteSpecial Paste:=xlValues Resume Next End Sub
Microsoft Excel 4.0 ExampleMicrosoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:
http://www.microsoft.com/supportnet/refguide/ link=LINKS() =FOR("counter",1,COLUMNS(link)) current=INDEX(link,,counter) delete=ALERT("To remove the link: "¤t&", press OK. To leave it alone press Cancel",1) =IF(delete=FALSE,NEXT()) search="='"¤t&"*" =ERROR(FALSE) =FORMULA.FIND(search,1,2) =FORMULA.REPLACE(search,GET.CELL(5),,,TRUE,FALSE) test_error=TRUE =WHILE(test_error=TRUE) next_cell=FORMULA.FIND.NEXT() =IF(next_cell=FALSE,SET.NAME("test_error","false")) =FORMULA.REPLACE(search,GET.CELL(5),,,TRUE,FALSE) =NEXT() =ERROR(TRUE) =NEXT() =RETURN()NOTE: The fifth line of this macro is a continuation of the fourth line.
REFERENCES"Function Reference," version 4.0, page 258-259
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Additional query words: XL97 macro break links
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