References Are Missing After Moving Files from Windows to Macintosh (179804)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 2000
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
This article was previously published under Q179804

SYMPTOMS

When you open a workbook, references may be listed as missing in the References dialog box in the Visual Basic Editor. The references are listed as missing even though the referenced files are stored in the correct location and have not been moved, renamed, or deleted.

This may cause problems if you run Visual Basic macros that use the referenced files.

CAUSE

This problem may occur when the following conditions are true:
  • The workbook contains a reference to a file (workbook, add-in, type library, and so on) that is stored on a network server that is accessible to computers running Microsoft Windows or the Macintosh operating system.

    -and-
  • The referenced file is not stored in the same folder as the workbook.

    -and-
  • At various times, you open the workbook in both Microsoft Excel for Windows and Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition.
Specifically, the problem occurs because the different versions of Microsoft Excel do not always properly handle the transition from the Universal Naming Convention (UNC) in Windows (such as \\Server\Files\User001) to the Macintosh path convention (Files:User001). Because of this problem, references to files may be damaged when you move a workbook from Microsoft Excel for Windows to Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh or vice versa.

To see an example of this problem, see the "More Information" section in this article.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, store the referenced files in the same folder as the workbook that references them. If the files and the workbook are in the same folder, the references are not listed as missing when you open the workbook.

NOTE: If you manually correct the missing references in the References dialog box, the problem may occur again the next time you open the workbook.

STATUS

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

MORE INFORMATION

Example

For this example, assume the following:
  • A network server is accessible by computers running Windows or the Macintosh operating system. For example, network server is running Microsoft Windows NT Server and Services for Macintosh (SFM).

    -and-
  • The server is named "Server" and contains a share named "Files." The share contains a folder named "User001" that contains a folder named "Addins." The Addins folder contains an add-in named "Test.xla."
To see an example of the problem, follow these steps:
  1. Start Microsoft Excel for Windows, and then create a new workbook.
  2. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Visual Basic Editor. In the Visual Basic Editor, click References on the Tools menu.
  3. Click Browse. In the File Name box, type the following, and then click Open:

    \\Server\Files\User001\Addins\Test.xla

    An entry for the add-in appears in the Available References list.
  4. Click OK. Then, click "Close And Return To Microsoft Excel" on the File menu.
  5. On the File menu, click Save As. In the File Name box, type the following:

    \\Server\Files\User001\Testwkbk.xls

  6. Click Save. Then, click Close on the File menu.
  7. On your Macintosh computer, use the Chooser to connect to the Files share on the server.
  8. Start Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition. On the File menu, click Open. Select Testwkbk.xls, and then click Open.
  9. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Visual Basic Editor. In the Visual Basic Editor, click References on the Tools menu.
In the Available References list, the reference you added is listed as "MISSING." The location for the add-in resembles the following:

Files:User001:Addins\Test.xla

Note that a backslash (\) appears in place of the colon (:) near the end of the location.

If you save the Testwkbk.xls workbook, close it, and then reopen the workbook in Microsoft Excel for Windows, the reference is still listed as "MISSING."

If you perform the previous steps in reverse (create the workbook, add the reference in Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition, and then open the workbook in Microsoft Excel for Windows), the reference is also listed as "MISSING."

REFERENCES

For more information about references in Microsoft Excel, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

175863 XL97: Reference Incorrectly Listed as "MISSING" in MS Excel 97

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/10/2006
Keywords:kbbug kbinterop KB179804
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