Problem opening PowerPoint linked with Excel data in SharePoint Online

Question

Hi,

Getting popup message "Sorry, we couldn't find all the linked files. You might be able to re-establish the links by clicking the File tab, then clicking "Edit Links to Files" on the info tab." when opening PowerPoint linked with Excel in SharePoint Online. User has Edit permissions to the site.

Tried repairing office also uninstalled and installed again but issue persist. This issue is coming for specific user. 

The excel and ppt files are in SharePoint Online document library and we are using Office 365 ProPlus version on Windows 7 OS.

There is no issue and it works well when i downloaded the excel and ppt files on local and added the links again by copy and paste special.

I tried with other excel and ppt files same issue for all.

Thanks,

Pavan

Answer 1

Hi Pavan,

I need to confirm if you try the same steps and meet the issue:

1. Copy the Excel file.
2. Open the PowerPoint file>select Paste>Paste special.
3. Then move the Excel file and PowerPoint file to SharePoint online.
4. Then other users open the PowerPoint file, then meet the issue.

If so, I suggest you check if the user’s Office is the newest version, he can update his Office first:

1. Click File>select Account.
2. Click Update Options>select Update now.

Besides, he can try safe mode to check the result:

Office safe mode

If the issue still exists, could you please provide the following information?

1. What’s your Office version? Please provide us the screenshot via File > Account > Product information. To protect your privacy, please help us mask your email address.
2. Create a new PowerPoint file with the link to check if the affected users also meet the issue.

Regards,

Qing

Answer 2

You're correct. My apologies, in recent versions of Office, Microsoft has eliminated the ability to create relative links to OLE objects. That method only works with video, audio, photos and other content.

For a potential workaround, Steve Rindsberg has published this macro that can change OLE link paths: Search & Replace to change OLE link paths

This would be useful if the links to be changed are the same every time. If every file has different paths, I'm afraid you'll have to continue manual editing.

Answer 3

Hi John,

Both files are in same folder only but the link includes complete path not only the file name.

Answer 4

The best practice when linking files is to put both files in the same folder, then create the links. When you do this, the link includes only the file name for the source. The links are then openable without editing on a much wider varieties of file structures, including Macs. I haven't tested this on SharePoint.

When the files are in different folders, the link includes the complete path to the file, and then you're forever editing links.

Answer 5

Hi Qing,

I removed the existing links and added again by copy excel and paste special in PPT and then saved the files in SharePoint Online.

Tried open the ppt again getting same issue.

Updated the Office by following your steps.

Tried safe mode and got same popup alert again.

Tried with new PowerPoint file getting same issue.

Check the below screenshot for the Office version.