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Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus - Excel hyperlinks with a pound sign not working

Michael - Work 1 Reputation point
2020-08-02T20:19:41.41+00:00

We have an application that creates Excel reports with hyperlinks. We are getting the error,

"Unable to open https://xxx.xx.com. Cannot download the information you requested."

This seems to be related with a Proxy server and/or the pound sign included in the url.

We are successful with other hyperlinks that are not using the Proxy server or the pound symbol in the URL.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/troubleshoot/office-suite-issues/cannot-locate-server-when-click-hyperlink

We have implemented the registry settings related to the Proxy server but are looking for suggestions related to the URL with the pound symbol.

Is this a known issue?

Thanks

Mike

Update: Failing URL.

https://xyz.com/xx/xx#action=xxxxx

This is for an IBM application that creates links in the report output.

Creating redirects for each link would be a substantial amount of overhead.

Also, this is using an IBM HTTP Server as the Reverse Proxy with Microsoft LDAP Authentication.

Interestingly enough we can copy the URL in a new browser window and be prompted with the log in to the application.

Once logged in, you are directed to the link's content as expected.

Excel is truncating the URL from the pound sign, on.

Another observation is that even if I try to shorten the url to the base link, it still presents and error like

"Unable to open https://xxx.xx.com. Cannot download the information you requested."

The first hurdle seems to be related to accessing HTTPS from excel, then determine if the pound issue is resolved.

Excel Management
Excel Management
Excel: A family of Microsoft spreadsheet software with tools for analyzing, charting, and communicating data.Management: The act or process of organizing, handling, directing or controlling something.
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  1. Emily Hua-MSFT 27,556 Reputation points
    2020-08-03T09:59:11.64+00:00

    Hi Mike,

    > Update: Failing URL. https://xyz.com/xx/xx#action=xxxxx

    << Do you mean this URL linked into Excel could not be opened on your Excel? If yes, did you find the # in hyperlinks changed to be %20-%20 or other characters when clicking hyperlinks in Excel?

    Here is a related KB from Microsoft, "You cannot use a pound character in a file name for a hyperlink in an Office program", the # is an invalid character in use of hyperlinks.

    As the article said, I could not open the linked files which has # in their names on Excel. But on my test environment, I could open this URL via Chrome as the following gif shows. The link in B1 is created via Hyperlink function, the hyperlink in C1 is created via Insert feature, URL in B1 and C1 could be opened successfully. The 'hovertext' in C1 shows the # symbol as - in the URL, the URL in B1 is not changed. I would like to suggest you back up on workbook, then use Hyperlink function to re-add the links to check this issue.

    15127-12.gif

    In addition, I find multiple similar threads, such as the following one: Hyperlink changes from # to %20-%20 when clicked in Excel

    (Please Note: Since the web site is not hosted by Microsoft, the link may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this information.)

    Some users suggest switched default browser to IE, I think you may try it to have a look.

    Any questions please post back.