Changing Links

You already know that Excel allows you to establish links between your workbook and other objects, such as graphics, Word documents, and other items. (We're talking regular links here, not hyperlinks.) There may come a time when you wish to change the links. For instance, you may have a picture linked in your workbook, and you want to change the location of the picture (to a different directory or drive). Excel allows you to change your link so it can point to the proper file as the source of the object in the workbook.

To change links in this manner if you are using Excel 2007, follow these steps:

1. Click the Office button, then click Prepare | Edit Links to Files. Excel displays the Edit Links dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
2. Select the link you want to change.
3. Click on Change Source. Excel displays the Change Source dialog box.
4. Use the controls in the dialog box to locate and select the file that will serve as the new source of the link.
5. Click Open. Excel updates the link to reflect the new source you specified.
6. Make any additional link changes necessary by repeating steps 2 through 5.
7. Click on OK.

If you are using an older version of Excel, follow these steps instead:

1. Choose Links from the Edit menu. Excel displays the Links dialog box.
2. Select the link you want to change.
3. Click on Change Source. Excel displays the Change Links dialog box.
4. In the Change Links To box, specify a new path for the file you want used as the source of the link.
5. Make any additional link changes necessary by repeating steps 2 through 4.
6. Click on OK.