When you use the "Open and Repair" option to repair a worksheet, the DDE links are removed from the worksheet in Excel 2003

Consider the following scenario. In Microsoft Office Excel 2003, you use the Open and Repair option to repair a worksheet. The file contains a Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) link. In this scenario, the DDE link is removed from the worksheet. Additionally, you experience the following symptoms:

• You receive the following error message:
  Errors were detected in 'filename.xls,' but Microsoft Office Excel was able to open the file by making the repairs listed below. Save the file to make these repairs permanent.
  
  Removed one or more invalid formulas.
• A #NULL! value appears in the cell in which the DDE link was located.

Note A DDE link is a link that is created when you use the Paste link option in the Paste Special dialog box.

If you save and then reopen the repaired Excel worksheet, you receive the following error message: When you view the data in the error report, the report contains an error signature that is similar to the following error signature:

This problem was first fixed in a hotfix that is now contained in a service pack. If you installed the latest Office 2003 service pack, you do not have to install the hotfix.

Service pack information

This problem is corrected in Office 2003 Service Pack 3. To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Office 2003. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
After you install the service pack, follow the steps that are listed in the "How to enable the hotfix" section of the article to set the DDELinkLoadRepairFix registry key and to activate the hotfix.

Hotfix information

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

How to obtain the hotfix

This issue is fixed in the Excel 2003 post-Service Pack 2 Hotfix Package that is dated November 7, 2005. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Note This hotfix will not fix a repaired Excel worksheet in which DDE links were removed.

How to enable the hotfix

To enable this hotfix, follow these steps:

1. Quit Excel 2003.
2. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
3. Locate and then click to select the following registry key:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Excel\Options
4. After you select the key that is specified in step 3, point to New on the Edit menu, and then click DWORD Value.
5. Type DDELinkLoadRepairFix, and then press ENTER.
6. Right-click DDELinkLoadRepairFix, and then click Modify.
7. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
8. On the File menu, click Exit to quit Registry Editor.

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

This problem was first corrected in Office 2003 Service Pack 3.

To open an Excel worksheet by using the Open and Repair option in Excel 2003, follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Open.
2. Click the Excel worksheet that you want to open.
3. Click the down-arrow on the Open button, and then click Open and Repair.