XL97: File Name in Formula Doesn't Appear Correctly

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

When you select a worksheet cell in Microsoft Excel 97, the formula in the formula bar may refer to an incorrect file name, even though the formula returns the correct result. For example, the formula bar may contain the formula

   ='C:\My Documents\[No.xls]Sheet1'!A1

CAUSE

This problem may occur if both of the following conditions are true:

• At any time, when you edited the formula in the cell, you entered an invalid file name. As a result, the "File Not Found" dialog box appeared.

      -and-
  

• In the File Not Found dialog box, you entered or selected a valid file name, and then clicked OK.

WORKAROUND

To correct this problem, use either of the following methods.

Method 1

Select the cell and manually edit the formula so that it refers to the correct file name, and then press Enter.

Method 2

Change the link reference within the Links dialog box.

   a. On the Edit menu, click Links, and then click Change Source.

   b. In the Source File box, select the link to change, and then click
      Change Source.

   c. In the Change Links dialog box, select the file you want to reference
      in the link, and then click OK. Click Close.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

When you edit a formula in Microsoft Excel 97, if the formula refers to an invalid file name, the File Not Found dialog box appears. You can use this dialog box to select a valid file.

If you allow the File Not Found dialog box to insert the correct file name into your formula, the formula still displays the invalid file name when you view or edit the cell. If you want the formula to display the correct file name, you must manually edit the formula and change the file name.