XL: ErrMsg: "Unable to Save External Link Values"

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 7.0, 7.0a

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to save a workbook that contains a link to a large range of cells (approximately 16,000 cells), the following error message may appear:

   Not enough memory

   Unable to save external link values

CAUSE

This problem occurs when you save a workbook that contains a link to a range of cells in a different workbook, and the range is more than 16,000 cells. This problem occurs because Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows cannot save a workbook that contains a link to an external range of more than 16,000 cells.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, link to multiple smaller ranges instead of one large range.

If you do not need to save a copy of the external link values, you can disable the option to save a copy of the external link values by following these steps:

1. Switch to the workbook that contains the link formulas.

2. On the Tools menu, click Options.

3. Click the Calculation tab in the Options dialog box.

4. Clear the Save External Link Values option under Workbook Options and click OK.

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.