RemoveExternalLinks

NAME

SYNOPSIS

RemoveExternalLinks [ file... ]

AVAILABILITY

DESCRIPTION

This utility helps when the removal of external links in Excel™ using:

  Excel → Data → Edit Links → Break Link

is not successful.

The RemoveExternalLinks command needs Excel to repair the Excel file after removal of the external links.

Each given file1.xlsx is saved to file1 (<number>).xlsx . The <number> is incremented until no destination file already exists.

Normally the RemoveExternalLinks can fix and save the processed Excel file automatically. If this is not possible the Excel program is started loading the modified file and the repair and save actions have to be executed interactively.

When the Excel command is not found on the system, specify the search path to Excel.exe in the EXCEL_PATH=path1;path2;... setting in the optional configuration file etc/RemoveExternalLinks.cfg.

The RemoveExternalLinks command should be installed to the 'Send To' context menu in 'Microsoft™ Windows Explorer' for most convenient usage. To do so, invoke RemoveExternalLinks -i once, respectively select the related checkbox in the config(1m) command.

OPTIONS

-h

usage message.

-i

install the RemoveExternalLinks command as menu point 'RemoveExternalLinks' to the 'Send To' context menu in 'Windows Explorer'.

-u

uninstall the RemoveExternalLinks shortcut from the 'Send To' context menu in 'Windows Explorer'.

-V

print program version.

file...

list of *.xlsx, *.xlsm, *.xltx, or *.xltm files to remove the external links from.

When installed in the 'Send To' menu the selected file(s) in 'Windows Explorer' are passed as a list of files to the RemoveExternalLinks command and in all given Excel files the external links (if existing) are removed and the modified file is saved as a new Excel file.

If no file is specified, you are queried to select the file(s) by an open file box dialog.

ENVIRONMENT

EXIT STATUS

0

no error.

1

files were skipped or conversion failed.

2

shortcut in 'Send To' menu could not be removed.

4

usage message displayed.

5

program version printed.

6

program variant not known. This error occurs when the RemoveExternalLinks command is renamed.

FILES

etc/RemoveExternalLinks.cfg

optional configuration file for RemoveExternalLinks. See: removeexternallinks.cfg(4) for more information.

EXAMPLES

SEE ALSO

NOTES

BUGS

Sometimes the file repair of Excel resulted in a loss of formatting in the Excel workbook. Therefore please review the repaired file after save.

AUTHOR

COPYRIGHT

This is free software; see WA2LWinTools/man/COPYING for copying conditions. There is ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.