Opening dependent WB causes linked formulas to become #Ref

[Rudi]

Opening dependent WB causes linked formulas to become #Ref?
Any common reason why this happens? Might it be DDE?
Tx

[HansV]

Any workbook with external links? Or just a specific one?

[Rudi]

Hmmm, dont have that info. I'll need to contact the requester tomorrow for additional info. Will provide details when i get a reply.

[Rudi]

Hi,

I got some more details from the requester... As quoted:

It happens to all workbooks that have links.

Example:
One workbook (book 1) is saved in a certain folder on the P drive.
The other one (book 2) is saved in a different folder on the P drive.
The formula is very simple, example, Book 1 Cell A 1 = Book 2 Cell A 1.

This formula then works and even when I close Book 2, it still works.
But, when I open both books simultaneously thereafter I get the error.

Any bright ideas or known causes?
TX

[HansV]

Does the user have Excel add-ins installed? If so, (s)he might try starting Excel without add-ins. See Jan Karel Pieterse's http://www.jkp-ads.com/Articles/StartupProblems.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for more info.

[Rudi]

I will inquire...
TX for the pointers...

[Rudi]

Hi,

I resolved the issue with the links becoming #REF

The issue was not in the links (in the destination file) that was referencing the Source file. The problem was actually in the source file all along. There were formulas in the source file that were linked into a reference pointing to the users TEMP folder. They had originally opened a file that was attached in an email. While that file was open, they created links into the source file that picked up the temp folder path into the formula. These formulas eventually fed into values that were used in the destination file. Since the links to the temp files were bombing out, it rippled into the destination file. The user always thought it was these destination formulas that were errored, but it all boiled down to related formulas in the source that fed the links in the destination....

The users broke links to the temp folder and the #REF stopped occurring. Hope that makes sense for others looking for resolutions to this type of issue....

[HansV]

Thanks for the feedback - good to know what caused it.