# Out, out damned link! (Excel question) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 7, 2001, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-out-damned-link-excel-question/64678 "2001-05-07T20:44:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bottle_of_Smoke)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-out-damned-link-excel-question/64678/1 "2001-05-07T20:44:44Z")
I wasn’t sure where to put this, but I fugured I would get a better response in GQ than elsewhere. Here’s the scenario: I have a massive Excel workbook filled with oodles of formulas and links that all feed the first sheet in the workbook, which is a sort of summary page. I update this workbook every morning with data that I download from our host system and send the info to a group of people in our office. To save resources and bandwidth, I don’t send the whole workbook. Instead, I have a second workbook that contains only the summary sheet. I copy the cells from the big monster workbook’s summary page and paste the (values only) data into the small one-page workbook and then email this li’l guy out. My problem (Excel vets can see this coming) is that I accidently forgot to paste values only one morning and instead just did a regular ol’ paste. I didn’t realize my mistake until it was too late to undo it, so I repasted the values only. So now, every time I try to save this little workbook I get error messages saying “not enough memory” and “unable to save external link values.” So my question is this: How in the heck do I remove the external link from this little workbook? I don’t see the option anywhere. I have the option to change my source data, but nowhere do I see an option to remove the link completely. Can anyone help? ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-out-damned-link-excel-question/64678/2 "2001-05-07T22:24:06Z")
To remove a link you’ll need to get rid of the formula that references the link. Since you’re pasting values, that might not be your issue. Here’s a theory I’d like to throw out. Range names. I had a file that had multiple tabs (call it “Big Ass File”) with multiple range names. I took a tab in that worksheet, made a copy of it, and started a new file (call it “Simple sheet”). That tab had no formula that referenced anything off that tab. Yet whenever I opened “Simple sheet”, it asked if I wanted to update links. I couldn’t figure out how the link had been created. It was just a simple chart for data entry, no convoluted formulas, or anything. Yet it was linking to “Big Ass File”!!! Arghghgh! Turns out that when I copied the tab to “Simple sheet”, it brought along range names with it. So I had a range “airfare” that was referencing “Big Ass File”. That was it. So I deleted the range name. Lo and behold the link was gone! So, I have no idea if this is what your issue is, but it’s a super secret problem I’ve stumbled on in the past. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bottle_of_Smoke)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-out-damned-link-excel-question/64678/3 "2001-05-08T14:21:22Z")
D’oh! I’m slapping my head right now. You are my new hero, scout. I had a couple database ranges defined in the original workbook, which apparently carried over to the other workbook. I went into the Define Name dialogue box, deleted all my range names, and bingo! problem solved. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/out-out-damned-link-excel-question/64678/4 "2001-05-08T16:20:54Z")
Yay! I saw you replied and was fully expecting to find that you tried it and it didn’t help. What a pleasant surprise. Woo hoo! 🆒 :: struts away, feeling like an Excel wizard ::