DDE Links Break When Changed from Manual to Automatic (159419)

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, when you use the Links dialog box to change a link from manual updating to automatic updating, the link may not be updated automatically.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when the following conditions are all true:

The link is a dynamic data exchange (DDE) link to a DDE server program. -and-
You are running either of the following operating systems:
- Windows NT, version 3.51 with Service Pack 5
- Windows NT, version 4.0
You are using Microsoft Excel 7.0 or Microsoft Excel 97. -and-
You change the link from automatic to manual updating before you change the link to automatic updating.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use the following steps:

In the Links dialog box, click the link that you want to change from manual to automatic updating.
Click Automatic.
Click Update Now, and then click OK.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

NOTE: This problem does not occur when under either Windows 95 or Windows NT 3.51 with Service Pack 4.

MORE INFORMATION

In Microsoft Excel, you can create a link to a DDE server program by typing a formula similar to the following:

   =DDEServer|Topic!Value

By default, when you create such a formula, the formula is updated automatically; that is, whenever the DDE server program broadcasts new information, the formula automatically displays the new information.

You can change this behavior by using the Links dialog box (on the Edit menu, click Links). If you click Manual at the bottom of the dialog box, the link is updated only when you click Update Now.