Error message in Excel: "Unable to save external link values"

When you try to save a workbook that contains either a link to a large range of cells in another workbook (approximately 16,000 cells) or too many cells that are linked to a cell in another workbook, you receive the following error message in Microsoft Excel 2000: Then, you receive the following error message: In Microsoft Office Excel 2003 and in Microsoft Excel 2002, you receive the following error message:Then, you receive the following error message:

This problem occurs when you save a workbook that contains a link to a range of cells in a different workbook, and the range is more than 16,000 cells. This problem occurs because Microsoft Excel 2000 cannot save a workbook that contains a link to an external range of more than 16,000 cells.

To work around this problem, link to multiple smaller ranges instead of one large range.

If you do not need to save a copy of the external link values, you can disable the option to save a copy of the external link values by following these steps:

1. Switch to the workbook that contains the link formulas.
2. On the Tools menu, click Options.
3. Click the Calculation tab in the Options dialog box.
4. Under Workbook options, click to clear the Save external link values check box, and click OK.

To work around this problem, you can also move the sheet or the sheets that contain the external data range that you are referencing in the VLOOKUP into the same workbook that contains the VLOOKUP formulas.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.