CODEWITHSUNDEEP
asp.netexcelinternet-explorerintranet
proggrock
proggrock

Reputation: 3289

Opening an Excel .xlsx file in IE and following its embedded hyperlinks back to file server

I have an intranet site that lets users open files in the browser (by prompting for download). One of these files is an .xlsx workbook that contains hyperlinks which point to different locations of files (.pdfs, .docs) on the file server in which the .xlsx workbook is located.

It seems the file server path to the workbook is replaced by a "Temporary Internet Files/Content.IE5/" path, leading to the warning "cannot open the specified file" in Excel.

I tried downloading the Excel document first and then following the links, but they're still opening in the temp internet location

EDIT:

For instance, when hovering over the hyperlinks in excel they read: "file:///C:\Documents And Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet files\Content.IE5\40WSS3CB\" + filename

when they should read: "file:///\servername\Departments\Read\" + filename

How can I still open the excel file in the browser and retain the hyperlinks inside and have them not be replaced by the temporary internet files path?

can someone point me in the right direction ? Thanks!

Upvotes: 4

Views: 4507

Answers (4)

Mat M
Mat M

Reputation: 1894

I did some testing, and it almost comes from the way you store links. If you browse through the dialog of Insert hyperlink, then you will end with relative urls. That is, the common base is stored as a reference to the current xlsx file path, and the remainder is stored and displayed as link.

You are totally in the issue Richard Hare mentions, so following the procedure from the microsoft support site should help. It did the trick on my test at least.

UPDATE to sum up down.with.the.bass comments :
One option to solve this, if doable, is to open xlsx file from its network share location and not through the website. If it is forbidden for whatever reason, you may be able to update the links using a macro.

Upvotes: 3

Richard Hare
Richard Hare

Reputation: 179

Do you have an option like "Update links on save" enabled?

In an earlier version of Excel it was set in Tools, Options, General-tab, Web Options-button, Files-tab.

Try unchecking it and resaving the document.

Upvotes: 2

Stepan1010
Stepan1010

Reputation: 3136

Hyperlinks shouldn't just mysteriously change. I saved an excel file with a hyperlink in it - opened it with html - saved it - open it in excel again - and the link stays the same. So I'm not sure how this could be happening to you(if I understand your situation correctly).

Upvotes: 1

BrOSs
BrOSs

Reputation: 929

I just did in my server the same task (the one I understood):

Uploaded the hyperlink to some asp.net webpage.

<p>
        <a href="Book1.xlsx">test</a><br />
</p>

The "book1.xlsx" file has inside a cell which refers (hyperlinks) to some share directory (i.e \\NHSTXX1\TEST\MS OFFICE EXCEL - \\SERVERNAME\FOLDER\OTHER FOLDER )

And when clicked the hyperlinked cell, it opened the share directory I was looking for.

I tried with Firefox.

hope this help

Upvotes: 1

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