Framed, Linked Excel Worksheet Duplicates Itself When Dragged

Last reviewed: February 5, 1998
Article ID: Q86791
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0b, 2.0b 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 3.0 and 4.0

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Word for Windows, if you frame a linked Microsoft Excel for Windows worksheet, then drag the frame to another location on the page, the worksheet may be duplicated when you update the link. The second copy of the worksheet is no longer linked, so you cannot update it.

MORE INFORMATION

The problem is related to dragging the framed worksheet to a location on the same line or above the location where it was originally framed. If you frame the linked Excel for Windows worksheet when the View Field Codes option is not selected, the framed worksheet can be moved, but the underlying LINK field is not moved with it. When you later update the LINK field, a new copy of the worksheet appears on the same line where the worksheet was originally framed. This new copy is not framed.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Word for Windows versions 2.x and 6.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here as it becomes available.

WORKAROUND

You can avoid this problem by using the Format Frame command to position the frame instead of using the mouse to click and drag the frame to its new position.

 -or-

Use the following steps to make sure you frame the LINK field when you frame the Excel worksheet:

  1. From the View menu, select the Field Codes option. You can now see the LINK field to the Excel for Windows worksheet.

  2. Select the entire LINK field.

  3. From the Insert menu, choose Frame. Choose the Yes button if Word prompts you to switch to Page Layout view.

         NOTE: The frame is the width of the current column. If necessary,
         change the width and/or height of the frame.
    

  4. From the View menu, clear the Field Codes option. You can now see the framed Excel for Windows worksheet. Select the frame and, using the mouse, drag it to a new location on the page.

  5. From the View menu, select the Field Codes option. Notice that the LINK field appears inside the positioned frame.

Steps to Reproduce Problem

  1. Open or create a spreadsheet in Excel for Windows with at least two rows and columns containing data.

  2. Select the worksheet. From the Edit menu, choose Copy.

  3. Switch to Word for Windows and create a new document. Press ENTER several times to insert some paragraph marks.

  4. From the Edit menu, choose Paste Special.

  5. In the Data Type box, select Formatted Text (RTF) and choose the Paste Link button.

  6. Position the insertion point in the linked table. From the Table menu, choose Select Table.

  7. From the Insert menu, choose Frame. Choose the Yes button if Word prompts you to switch to Page Layout view.

  8. From the View menu, check the Field Codes command. Notice that the LINK field is visible, and the table disappears. The LINK field is not framed.

  9. From the View menu, clear the Field Codes option.

  10. With the mouse, drag the framed table up to the top margin, centered on the page.

  11. From the View menu, select the Field Codes option. Notice that the table AND a LINK field are now visible. The LINK field is not framed and is located at the original insertion point.

  12. From the View menu, clear the Field Codes option.

  13. From the Edit menu, choose Links. Select the first item in the Links box and choose the Update button. Notice that two identical tables are visible, one centered at the top margin and one at the left margin.

    If you make changes in the Excel for Windows spreadsheet, the positioned table is NOT updated because it is no longer linked.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Word for Windows versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, and 6.0c. This problem was corrected in Word version 7.0 for Windows 95.


KBCategory: kbusage
KBSubcategory: kbtable kbframe kbfield
Additional query words: 2.0 2.0a 2.0a-CD 2.0b word6
winword 6.0 winword2
Keywords : kbfield kbframe kbtable kbusage
Version : 2.0 2.0a 2.0a-CD 2.0b 2.0c
Platform : WINDOWS


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Last reviewed: February 5, 1998
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