Macros to Delete Formula Links (126093)

MORE INFORMATION

One of the most common link types is a formula link. A link formula in a cell can refer to a cell on a closed workbook file. If that file no longer exists, the formula is no longer valid. To delete such a link, click Find on the Edit menu, and search for an (!) exclamation point. This will show each link in a sheet. You can then go to each cell, delete the formula, and replace it with the value that was in the cell. If many cells contain links, deleting the links may take some time. To speed up the deletion process, you may want to use one of the following methods. The macros will enable you to delete some links and not others.

NOTE: The Visual Basic Code Example is specifically for Microsoft Excel version 5.0 and later. Also, note that the Microsoft Excel 4.0 example will not work in Microsoft Excel version 5.0 and later because of the difference in the link formulas. For example, a link formula in Microsoft Excel 5.0 and later may be similar to the following

   ='c:\Excel\[book1.xls]sheet1'!$a$1

while a Microsoft Excel 4.0 link may be similar to the following:

   ='c:\Excel\sheet1.xls'!$a$1

Note also that these macros may not work if the source file for a link is located on a network drive. If this is the case, the link will be found but not deleted.

If You Are Using Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows

If you are using Microsoft Excel 97, you can use the Delete Links Wizard to remove links in your workbook.

For additional information about the Delete Links Wizard, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

188449 : XL97: Delete Links Wizard Available

Visual Basic Code Example (Microsoft Excel 5.0 or later)

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements.

Code Example

Type the following macro code in a new module sheet:

    Option Base 1

    'This macro deletes all formula links in a workbook.
    '
    'This macro does not delete a worksheet formula that references an open
    'book, for example:
    '
    '   =[Book1.xls]Sheet1!$A$1
    '
    ' To delete only the links in the active sheet, see the comments
    ' provided in the Delete_It macro later in this article.

    Public Times As Integer
    Public Link_Array As Variant

    Sub Should_Delete()
    Items = 0 'initialize these names
    Times = 0
    Link_Array = ActiveWorkbook.LinkSources 'find all document links

    Items = UBound(Link_Array) 'count the number of links
    For Times = 1 To Items

    'Ask whether to delete each link
    Msg = "Do you want to delete this link:  " & Link_Array(Times)
      Style = vbYesNoCancel + vbQuestion + vbDefaultButton2
      Response = MsgBox(Msg, Style)
      If Response = vbYes Then Delete_It
      If Response = vbCancel Then Times = Items
    Next Times
    End Sub

    Sub Delete_It()
    Count = Len(Link_Array(Times))
    For Find_Bracket = 1 To Count - 1
      'Replace the "\" in the next line with a ":" if you are using
      'Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh.
      If Mid(Link_Array(Times), Count - Find_Bracket, 1) = "\" _
      Then Exit For
    Next Find_Bracket
    'Add brackets around the file name.
    With_Brackets = Left(Link_Array(Times), Count - Find_Bracket) & _
      "[" & Right(Link_Array(Times), Find_Bracket) & "]"

    'Does the replace.

    'If you want to remove links only on the active sheet, change the
    'next two lines into comments by placing an (') apostrophe in front of
    'them as well as the line, "Next Sheet_Select", that closes the loop.

    For Each Sheet_Select In ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets

    Sheet_Select.Activate
    Set Found_Link = Cells.Find(what:=With_Brackets, After:=ActiveCell, _
            lookin:=xlFormulas, lookat:=xlPart, searchorder:=xlByRows, _
            searchdirection:=xlNext, matchcase:=False)
       While UCase(TypeName(Found_Link)) <> UCase("Nothing")
           Found_Link.Activate

           On Error GoTo anarray

           Found_Link.Formula = Found_Link.Value

           Set Found_Link = Cells.FindNext(After:=ActiveCell)

       Wend
    Next Sheet_Select 'To remove links only on the active sheet
                     'place an (') apostrophe at the front of this line.

    Exit Sub

    anarray:
    Selection.CurrentArray.Select
    Selection.Copy
    Selection.PasteSpecial Paste:=xlValues
    Resume Next

    End Sub

Run the Should_Delete macro.
Each link in the workbook is identified, and for each link you are asked whether you want to delete the link. If you click Yes, the link is deleted, and the current cell value is saved in each of the cells that were previously linked.

Microsoft Excel 4.0 Example

Example

 link=LINKS()
 =FOR("counter",1,COLUMNS(link))
 current=INDEX(link,,counter)
 delete=ALERT("To remove the link:  "&current&", press OK. To leave it
     alone press Cancel",1)
 =IF(delete=FALSE,NEXT())
 search="='"&current&"*"
 =ERROR(FALSE)
 =FORMULA.FIND(search,1,2)
 =FORMULA.REPLACE(search,GET.CELL(5),,,TRUE,FALSE)
 test_error=TRUE
 =WHILE(test_error=TRUE)
 next_cell=FORMULA.FIND.NEXT()
 =IF(next_cell=FALSE,SET.NAME("test_error","false"))
 =FORMULA.REPLACE(search,GET.CELL(5),,,TRUE,FALSE)
 =NEXT()
 =ERROR(TRUE)
 =NEXT()
 =RETURN()

NOTE: The fifth line of this macro is a continuation of the fourth line.