To remove links from Excel worksheets, use any of the following
methods.
Method 1
Calculate the remote reference and change it to a value. This method
replaces the formula with a constant value.
If the remote reference is part of a larger formula, the reference can be
calculated using the F9 key to change the reference to a value. For
example, if you have a formula in a cell, such as
=Sheet1.xls!$A$1+150
you can select the link portion of the formula (Sheet1.xls!$A$1) in the
formula bar, press F9, and then press ENTER. This replaces "Sheet1.xls!$A$1" with its underlying value.
Method 2
To delete the link and its results entirely, selecting the cell that
contains the link, and then click
Clear on the
Edit menu.
Method 3
Search defined names that refer to external workbooks and either delete the
defined name or change the name to refer to a static string or value.
To verify that you removed all links, use the following steps to search the dependent sheet.
- On the Edit menu, click Find.
- In the Find what box, type an exclamation point (!), and then, in the Look in box, click Formulas.
- Click Find Next.
Excel searches for any formula that contains an exclamation point, which indicates an external or remote reference.