WD: Common Causes of "Couldn't Establish Link" Error in MacWord

• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh versions 5.0, 5.1

SYMPTOMS

If you are using Microsoft Word for the Macintosh version 5.0 or 5.1, and Word cannot update a link, you may receive the following error message:

   Couldn't establish link to <program name> for <path name>,
   <bookmark name>. Common Causes: source file renamed or moved,
   program unavailable, not enough memory.

CAUSE

If there is any interruption or if the program, path, or bookmark names change after the original creation of the link, Word displays the above error message when the link attempts to update information.

The error message can originate from one of the following:

• The source file or its program has been moved into another folder or disk, or been renamed.
• Not enough memory exists to open the program that the source file uses.
• The volume that contains the source file is currently unmounted. Most commonly this volume is an unmounted file server or disk partition.
• The source document has been closed prior to pasting linking the information.

RESOLUTION

After you find the source of the error and modify the link, the link services should work as expected.

To check the program, path, and bookmark names for the source file, follow these steps:

1. Select the link by clicking it anywhere.

2. On the Edit menu, click Link Options.

3. The information for the link listed here includes:

       - Link To contains the bookmark name.
   

       - The In list shows the complete path name.
   

       - Program shows the name of the program needed.
   

MORE INFORMATION

The Update Automatically option is the default in the Link Options dialog box. This option updates any links when you open a Word file that contains links. To turn off this option, follow these steps:

1. Select the link.

2. On the Edit menu, click Link Options.

3. Change the Update option to Manually or Never.