How to remove links from a worksheet in Excel 2000

In Microsoft Excel, you can change and move links in the Links dialog box. However, you cannot use the Links dialog box to remove links. This article tells you how to remove links from Excel worksheets.

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 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.

1. On the Edit menu, click Find.
2. In the Find what box, type an exclamation point (!), and then, in the Look in box, click Formulas.
3. Click Find Next.

Excel searches for any formula that contains an exclamation point, which indicates an external or remote reference.