problem with linked excel worksheet object in word changing to object and then link not updating

Anonymous
2022-08-10T04:02:31+00:00

I have used linked excel tables or worksheet object in word documents for years without any issues until yesterday 8/8/22.

Out of nowhere the "Linked Worksheet Object", or the excel table that I linked into word (paste special > paste link > microsoft excel worksheet object), changed to an "object" after the word doc was saved, closed and opened again.

Before yesterday, I could right-click on the linked table, or "Linked Worksheet Object", and select "Update Link" and any changes I made to the table in the linked excel file would appear in the word doc. Now, I right-click on what is now an "object" and select "Update Link" and nothing happens. Strangely, if I right-click on the linked table, select "object", then "Links...", and then "Open Source", the "object" reverts back to a "Linked Worksheet Object" and updates as usual.

But after saving, closing, and opening the word document again the "Linked Worksheet Object" changes back to an "object" again and I have to take the same steps to update a linked table in word after changes made to it in excel.

This is happening in the Word and Excel provided by the Microsoft 365 Personal subscription. I am using a Dell Latitude 3500 and Surface Pro 7 under this subscription but am only having this issue when using the Dell Latitude 3500. I have checked all the Options in Word & Excel and they are the same on both computers. I have also checked the Registry Editor and everything related to Word & Excel looks to be the same on both.

What is going on? Better yet, how do I fix this and get back to normal?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | Other | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-08-23T18:18:52+00:00

    Shoot! I thought we were on to something.

    One thing I have changed that has helped a little is changing the each table link from manual to automatic update. Now when I open the word doc (with linked excel file already open), it asks if I want to "update this document with the data from the linked files", and I select "yes".

    Initially, all the table links changed to a text that says:

    But if I update the links again (either manually or with macro that updates all links in the word doc), then the table links are restored. The only problem with this (that I wasnt experiencing before) is all the tables lose their formatting (had them set to black and white; fixed width to match the margins). But once I manually change their formatting then it keeps that formatting even after I update the link or save/close/re-open and update the links again.

    If anyone knows a way to keep the table links formatting from changing after initially restoring all the links (need to do this when moving the linked word and excel files to a new location) then I will be almost back to normal.

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-08-23T17:56:49+00:00

    Just wanted to reply back that this was not the answer. Temporary fix but the problem came back after a couple of days and I'm not sure why.

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-08-23T17:43:16+00:00

    Our IT Dept rolled us back to 2205 and it made no difference.

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-08-23T17:34:06+00:00

    Thanks! I will try that

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  5. Anonymous
    2022-08-23T11:43:16+00:00

    I had my IT department roll back my Office version to 2205 and everything works great again. I'm convinced this is a bug in 2207.

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