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I have a spread sheet that recently started asking "This file contains links to other files, should they be updated". I have been using this file for a while and don't know why it started, what it means, or how to stop it. Any suggestions?

LibreOffice 3.4.4
OOO340m1 (Build:402)
Running on Ubuntu 11.10

wonea
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Dennis
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  • Have you ever copied content over from another document? The content may have been linked instead of embedded. – iglvzx Feb 04 '12 at 22:09
  • Possibly, it is in a group of files that I sometimes do, can you explain a little and put it in an answer? – Dennis Feb 04 '12 at 22:32
  • @iglvzx, please try http://superuser.com/questions/418079/why-does-libreoffice-calc-ask-about-updating-links-in-excel-2007-xls-file-when/436699#436699 woraround. However, it doesn't work for me :( –  Jun 14 '12 at 08:15

2 Answers2

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You have the choice to embed or link to an object when you insert content into your document from another source. Paste Special also gives you a choice to link objects from the clipboard.

paste special

Each method has it's own benefits. With embedding, all the content is contained within a single file. This simplifies distributing documents or moving them around, as all the content moves together. On the other hand, linking reduces redundancy, by having a single source for an object. A link's path can be relative or absolute.

Since you are receiving a message about linked objects in your file, the Edit > Links command will highlight them for you. You can then remove the links and the objects will instead be embedded.

edit links

Example:

source

link

Update:

I am having issues with Break Link in LibreOffice 3.4.5. It should be removing the links and embedding the latest contents, but the link persists after saving and closing.

Community
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iglvzx
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    Ok, the last time it happened (right before I posted the question) I hit the yes (update) button. Previously I had always said no because I wasn't sure what was up. Now it isn't asking me anymore and the Edit>Links doesn't show anything. So I obviously ruined my chances of being certain, but this is good info that I didn't know before so I'm going to accept it. Thanks – Dennis Feb 05 '12 at 00:52
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    Thanks for the Edit -> Links suggestion, unfortunately I have a workbook where I get the same prompt as the OP but Edit -> Links is grayed out. – Randy Syring May 02 '12 at 21:25
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Sometimes this can happen because of pasting a formula from another sheet that references something not in the current sheet (giving a #REF! error), then deleting it again.

It can be easily fixed by going into Insert > Names > Manage and deleting the problem named reference. (Shortcut: Ctrl+F3).

Credit to this answer, but I note someone had asked here as well.

Community
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BevanFindlay
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  • Thanks for the tip. It worked for me: after I found a #REF! cell and deleted its content, I saved the spreadsheet file, closed LibreOffice Calc and opened the spreadsheet file again. The issue doesn't happen anymore. Thanks again. – Yuri Sucupira Nov 22 '16 at 22:22