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. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2022-08-16T05:54:27+00:00

    After restarting the computer the links function correctly.

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  2. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2022-08-16T05:52:25+00:00

    I would say that the issue is that the Dell computer is not able to access the OneDrive folder that is in the root directory of the C: drive of the Surface.

    I do not use OneDrive for anything like that.

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-08-16T02:00:12+00:00

    Hi Doug,

    Thanks for the help but this does not fix my problem. I isolated what is going wrong (see below) so now just need help figuring out how to fix it.

    This is a screenshot of the source information for an excel table linked in word when opening it on my Surface laptop. Note that this link was inserted using the same steps you and others on here have outlined. I have set this link to update manually and it updates like it should when I select "Update link".

    And here is a screenshot of the source information for the same excel table linked in word when opening it on my Dell laptop. Note that this link was inserted using the same steps you and others on here have outlined, and that this is from the same file that both devices can access from OneDrive. Note how it moves the "Item in file" name to the end of the "Source file" name.

    Why is the "Item in file" changing when opening on the Dell? Note that I can then close the file on the Dell, open on the Surface, and it works like normal.

    Why does it work on one device and not the other? Is Microsoft trying to force me to buy another Surface?

    Here is the message I get on the Dell when trying to update this link:

    Why do I only get this message on the Dell and not the Surface?

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-08-15T22:15:46+00:00

    now what happens to that link if you save and close everything and re-open?

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  5. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2022-08-15T22:05:56+00:00

    Here, using a 64-bit installation of Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, Version 2207 (Build 15427.20210 Click-to-Run) Current Channel, if I copy a range from Excel and then use Paste>Special>Paste link:>Microsoft Excel Worksheet Object

    and then Save and Close the document, when I re-open it, I see the following dialog

    and if I click on Yes, any changes made to the data in Excel appear in the document and likewise, while I have the document open, if I make changes in Excel they are immediately reflected in the document.

    This is what I see if I right click on the item that was pasted into the Word document (after having closed and re-opened the document.

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