I have a master file that references a multitude of other files. To link the
other files, I am using a hyperlink that looks like this:

\\company.com\SHARE\folder\document name.doc

This allows any user within the company to access the file. However, each
time I save the file and reopen it, the links have been changed to this:

.../../../../../../SHARE/folder/document%20name.doc

I noticed, too, that if I reference the file this way:

E:\SHARE\folder\document name.doc

....Excel changes it to the following:

document%20name.doc

(the master document is housed in the E:\SHARE\folder\ folder)

I presume there is a setting in Excel that attempts to change universal
links to local links; however, I have no idea how to correct the problem.
Suggestions?

R

The easy part first...

%20 is hex for the space character. That address has to be a single string for
the HTML stuff to work.

Saved from a previous post:

A few people have said that this has stopped a similar problem from occurring.
Maybe it'll help you--but you'll have to test it to make sure.

In xl2003 menus:
File|Properties|Summary Tab|Hyperlink Base
change it to C:\
(something that's always available)

In xl2007:
Click on the Office button
Choose Prepare, then properties.
Then use the arrow on the Document Properties dropdown
Choose Advanced Properties
And then change the hyperlink base on the Summary tab.


I like to use the =hyperlink() worksheet function for this. I've never had one
of these worksheet functions change.

I'll put the path in a hidden cell (A1 in my example). (Include the trailing
backslash, too!)

Then put the filenames in A2:Axxx
Then use the =hyperlink() formula in B2:Bxx.

=hyperlink("File:////"&$a$1&a2,"Click me")
and drag down

Then when I need to change the folder, I can change it one location (A1).

I could embed the path directly in the formula:
=hyperlink("File:////c:\my documents\excel\"& a2,"Click me")
and use Edit|Replace, but that seems like more work to me.

========

If you used Insert|Hyperlink, then you've noticed that edit|replace won't touch
those hyperlink addresses.

If you used Insert|hyperlink (xl2003 menus), you'll have more work to do. But
the good news is David McRitchie has done most of it for you:

http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/buildtoc.htm
look for:
Fix Hyperlinks (#FixHyperlinks)

If you're new to macros:

Debra Dalgleish has some notes how to implement macros he
http://www.contextures.com/xlvba01.html

David McRitchie has an intro to macros:
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/getstarted.htm

Ron de Bruin's intro to macros:
http://www.rondebruin.nl/code.htm

(General, Regular and Standard modules all describe the same thing.)

Randaylb wrote:

I have a master file that references a multitude of other files. To link the
other files, I am using a hyperlink that looks like this:

\\company.com\SHARE\folder\document name.doc

This allows any user within the company to access the file. However, each
time I save the file and reopen it, the links have been changed to this:

../../../../../../SHARE/folder/document%20name.doc

I noticed, too, that if I reference the file this way:

E:\SHARE\folder\document name.doc

...Excel changes it to the following:

document%20name.doc

(the master document is housed in the E:\SHARE\folder\ folder)

I presume there is a setting in Excel that attempts to change universal
links to local links; however, I have no idea how to correct the problem.
Suggestions?

R

--

Dave Peterson