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
    2022-10-24T18:26:55+00:00

    Our outsourced IT firm has been in touch with Microsoft about this issue in the last week. Microsoft confirmed this is a known issue with multiple tenants affected. They have concluded that the manual update option is broken for both online and locally stored files. There is no ETA on a fix. For now, the suggested workaround is to use the "automatic update" option within Word instead of manual updates.

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-08-23T02:57:57+00:00

    Hey Doug,

    So now the same issue is happening on my Surface so this is not a hardware issue. And if I link an excel table to a word doc using the same steps as you noted above, the "Linked Worksheet Object" works correctly. However, after saving, closing, and re-opening the word and excel files, the "Linked Worksheet Object" changes to an "object" like I explained in my original post. This is a word and excel file created on the Surface and saved on its desktop, so I dont think is necessarily a OneDrive issue anymore.

    Also, towards the end of last week I reset the Dell computer to reinstall Windows 11, re-installed Microsoft 365 Personal and OneDrive, and the links all worked correctly like on your end after I completed all that. I'm also using Version 2207 (Build 15427.20210 Click-to-Run) Current Channel. The links worked correctly for word/excel files created and saved on OneDrive or created and saved on the desktop.

    Any ideas what could be going on? Do you think uninstalling Windows 11 and reinstalling Windows 10 might help for the time being?

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-08-19T02:20:21+00:00

    I finally got the links to work again. ONLY had to use the "Reset this PC (System Setting)" to reinstall Windows 11 and then reinstalled Office365 and OneDrive. Everything seems to be back to normal. Will be interesting to see if it stays that way. I put a 4-week pause on system updates.

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-08-10T12:22:08+00:00

    Thank you.

    I just did on online repair of the Microsoft 365 - en-us that is installed on the Dell but the "Linked Worksheet Object" is still showing up as "Object" when I open the word and excel files.

    I'm not sure what version is installed but under Apps & Features it shows 16.0.15427.20210 and 8/10/2022. In Word it says the version is 2207 (Build 15427.20210 Click-to-Run).

    Could there be an issue with something in the registry?

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  5. Anonymous
    2022-08-10T05:33:02+00:00

    Hello there,

    Thank you for reaching out here regarding this query. I already understand how frustrating this can be.

    Can you confirm if you're running the latest update of Microsoft Office on your Dell laptop?

    Have you already attempted using the Office Repair option to see if it solves the issue?

    I reckon you might have to reinstall Office if all my above questions are checked already.

    Sorry for the inconvenience caused!

    Warm regards,
    Albert

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