XL97: "Cannot Open Specified File" Clicking Hyperlink

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel 97, when you click a hyperlink that is linked to a defined name or a range in another workbook, you may receive the following error message:

   Cannot open the specified file.

CAUSE

This will occur if all of the following conditions are true:

• You created a hyperlink using the HYPERLINK worksheet function.

      -and-
  

• The "link_location" argument of the HYPERLINK function uses the syntax:

        <workbookname>!<definedname or range>
  

  For example:

        "C:\My Documents\Mybook.xls!Alpha"
  

        -or-
  

        "C:\My Documents\Mybook.xls!$A$1"
  

      -and-
  

• If you are referring to a defined name, the defined name in question is not contained on the first worksheet in the workbook.

RESOLUTION

To prevent this problem from occurring, use the following syntax in the "link_location" argument of the HYPERLINK function:

   [<workbookname>]<definednameorrange>

   =HYPERLINK("C:\My Documents\Mybook.xls!Alpha")

   =HYPERLINK("[C:\My Documents\Mybook.xls]Alpha")

   -or-

   =HYPERLINK("[C:\My Document\Mybook.xls]$A$1")

1. On the Window menu, click Unhide.

2. Click the name of the workbook you want to unhide and click OK.

STATUS

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel 97.

MORE INFORMATION

The HYPERLINK worksheet function in Microsoft Excel 97 allows you to create a hyperlink, or jump, to web pages and Microsoft Office documents.

If you use the HYPERLINK function to create a link to a defined name within a Microsoft Excel workbook, you must use the [<workbookname>]<defined name> syntax when you refer to the defined name. If you use the more traditional <workbookname>!<definednameorrange> syntax, the hyperlink may not work correctly.