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Excel cannot open specified file which is a link to a Lotus Notes database

Anonymous
2016-03-03T05:44:54+00:00

Hi

I would like to paste Lotus Notes Database links to excel - for reference - as hyperlink.

Despite using syntax [protocol]://[server]/[file] Excel will not open them in Mac, getting the "Cannot open the specified file" error message.

On windows works fine, any idea?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-05-15T13:41:29+00:00

    It works. I have been using it without any problem during the last 4 years:

    Clicking the right mouse button from a Lotus Notes records, then "Coping as Document Link".  And then, in the copying [Ctrl-V] in the Excel [2016 version].

    It was easy. But, suddenly,  since a couple of weeks ago, that method (the Control-V from a copied link) does not longer work. My Excel license is a corporate one and I am not aware that I changed any 'hyperlink related' parameter.

    What is ever more puzzling is that that same 'copy-paste' method still works perfectly in the MsWord (also 2016 version). 

    Even more, If I pick that Lotus-Notes link from a MsWord document into Excel, then the Lotus-Notes works (again) from Excel.

    Additionally: the former links work perfectly. If I take a look at them: this the info it appears: 

    in the Address :

    notes:///852579C700652D16/F7A87B1C97DF36BD85256BFF006AFAEB/B214BE7AD9DD481DC12580F9002EF2AD

    I guess that there is something in the copy-into-Excel that -somehow- changed.

    Your advice is highly welcome.

    Additional info.

    *** I'm running on a Windows 7 Professional (S.Pack.1)

    *** This is what my 'paste' contains (when pasted in a text) (I've changed the values to keep confidentiality):

    b.i. Sales SPGI IMT - Transaction Dashboard

    <NDL>

    <REPLICA 8383838383>

    <VIEW OF231321:123123132-ON3233DB4:42333E70A>

    <NOTE OF0996CF7E:36D552AE-ONC125811A:0051908A>

    <HINT>CN=CBMBIG92/OU=CAM/OU=A/O=Lotus</HINT>

    <REM>Database 'b.i. TEST TEST ', '</REM>

    </NDL>

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  2. Jim G 134K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2016-03-06T14:23:21+00:00

    Do you have Lotus Notes on your Mac? If not, then the link can't possibly work.

    What protocol are you using?

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  3. Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 436K Reputation points
    2016-03-04T23:07:02+00:00

    Do you have Lotus Notes installed on your Mac?

    You can hyperlink to virtually any type of file, but that doesn't mean Excel can open it. The hyperlink is nothing more than a pointer. If it isn't an Excel-compatible file type a supporting application has to be available. IOW, if you hyperlink to a PDF the PDF opens in your default reader program or if you link to a Word document the file opens in Word.

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-03-04T15:08:06+00:00

    I do not believe that Excel ever could open a Lotus notes database. Therefore I would not expect such a hyperlink to ever work.

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