Error Message: "Not A Valid Link" for Manual Excel Link

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Word for Windows, version 6.0

SYMPTOMS

In a Word for Windows document, when you manually insert a LINK field to add a Microsoft Excel version 4.0 for Windows worksheet or chart (by pressing CTRL+F9 and typing the LINK field text), the following error message may occur in place of the linked object in Word:

   Not a valid link.

By contrast, this error does not occur in Word 2.x for Windows when you manually insert a LINK field to a Microsoft Excel version 4.0 or 5.0 worksheet or chart.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Word 6.0 for Windows. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

WORKAROUNDS

Do not manually press CTRL+F9 and type the LINK field arguments in your Word document. Instead, create the link using one of the following methods:

• Link the Microsoft Excel worksheet or chart by copying it in Microsoft Excel and pasting it in your Word document using the Paste Special command on the Edit menu.

  -or-

• Create the link using the Object command on the Insert menu in Word.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word User's Guide," version 6.0, pages 609-610

"Microsoft Word for Windows User's Guide," version 2.0, pages 682-690