How can I avoid the "update links" startup prompt __and__ avoid
attempting to update (from?) links?

I am receive a workbook created on another system. The other system
has all the other workbooks referred to by links. But my system has
only one workbook, with all values updated before the workbook was
saved and sent to me.

According to the help text, there should be an Edit Links Startup
Prompt option menu. That should permit to avoid the prompt __ and__
allow me to control whether or not to do the update. But the Links is
grayed out. In other words, I cannot click on the Edit Link item.

Is that an option that the owner of the workbook with links must set
before sending the workbook to me?

Deselecting the "ask to update links" under Tools Options Edit is
not what I want because according to help text, if the prompt is
deselected there, Excel will automatically try to update links,
presumably when a spreadsheet is changed..