List of external links
A list of links to other workbooks is produced by the AutoDocumentation List external links command. The list is on sheet X~Links. If it exists, the list of sheets on sheet X~Sheets will be updated when this command is run.
This list is useful as in most cases it provides information about where the link is to be found. The Edit > Links... command simply lists the external links, giving to clue as to where they are.
However, the information on this list is limited: it does not attempt to find all the external links in charts, and shows only the sheets containing the links, not all the cells on those sheets (in many cases there would be too many cells to show conveniently). In addition, if there are links to different workbooks of the same name (but in different directories) the location information may be confused.
These limitations are not significant because they only occur in situations that should not happen anyway. Burying links deep in chart definitions is to be deplored, and links to workbooks of the same name are bound to lead to confusion.
The contents of the list are as follows:
- Link to workbook
- The name of the workbook being linked to. There is one row for each workbook.
- In directory
- The directory containing the workbook being linked to.
- Used in formulae on sheets
- The sheets that contain formulae linking to the workbook.
- Used in charts on sheets
- The sheets that contain charts linking to the workbook. Only charts with links in their data series or in embedded objects are included. Charts that have links in their titles, axes or data labels are not listed. Note that links in data series are very fragile, and may be corrupted if the source workbook is open (in which case they will not appear in the list, but the sheets will be noted as containing problematic links).
- Used in objects on sheets
- The sheets that contain objects that link to the workbook.
- Used in names
- The Names that link to the workbook.
Updating the list
The list of links can be updated at any time by using the command XLSior > AutoDocument > List external links.
Sorting the list
The order in which the links appear in the list is determined by your user and workbook preferences.