Troubleshoot linking with other programs

This message appears when the source file or source program can't be opened.

Make sure the source program is available    If the source program is not installed on your computer, convert the object to the file format of a program you do have installed.

Ensure that memory is adequate    Make sure you have enough memory to run the source program. Close other programs to free up memory, if necessary.

Close all dialog boxes    If the source program is running, make sure it doesn't have any open dialog boxes. Switch to the source program, and close any open dialog boxes.

Close the source file    If the source file is a linked object, make sure someone else doesn't have the it open.

Ensure that the source file name has not changed    If the source file you want to edit is a linked object, make sure it has the same name as it did when you created the link and has not been moved. Select the linked object, and then click the Links command on the Edit menu to see the name of the source file. If the source file has been renamed or moved, use the Change Source button in the Links dialog box to locate the source file and reconnect the link.

1. In Excel, click Options on the Tools menu, and then click the General tab.
2. Clear the Ignore other applications check box.

   If this option is selected, Excel ignores requests from programs that link to Excel data by means of DDE rather than OLE.