XL2000: Unable to Use File URL in Linking Formulas

If you try to enter a linking formula in a cell using a File URL format, the formula will return the #REF! error.

For example, if you have a file called "Test.xls" (without the quotation marks) on the network share called "\\server\share" (without the quotation marks), the linking formula using a File URL format would be:

Microsoft Excel only supports Internet links using either the HTTP URL or the FTP URL formats.

If you know the path to the file, you can create a link using a UNC path. In the example given in the "Symptoms" section, the linking formula using a UNC path would be:

The following linking formulas are examples of how you can manually create Internet links in Excel to HTTP or FTP servers:

HTTP

When you enter this formula, it may initially resolve to the #REF! error value, but after a few seconds, the source cell value will display in the linked cell.

FTP

For more information about creating links to data or files, click Microsoft Excel Help on the Help menu, type create links to connect to data and files in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.