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Opening Excel with External Links

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Posted on by rolign

Hi all,

I am having trouble opening Excel files that contain external links that need to be updated with the Launch Excel function. I've tried to disable automatic link updates in Excel app and disallowing updates via Trust Center, but it still wants to update the links, but when it fails it gives popup messages that are not being handled by the Launch action. The only way to move forward is to close these popups manually.

Excel error1.png Excel error2.png

Any ideas how to avoid these popups, close them automatically or disable them completely?

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Power Automate Desktop

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MichaelAnnis 5,727 Moderator on at

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Can you build a macro into the workbook:

On Start
Application.DisplayAlerts = False

Good luck!

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rolign on at

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I wish, but no, the files are created by business users and happen to be very random at times 🙂

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Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee on at

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Did you try closing those windows by sending keys?
First, assure Excel window is focused
Then, in the first case, try Left Key + Enter and in second, just Enter.

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MichaelAnnis 5,727 Moderator on at

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To add to @Anonymous 's suggestion, I assume they don't always pop up, so you could build something like "If Microsoft Excel Security Warning Window is up Send Keys {LShiftKey}({Tab}) {Return}, If Microsoft Excel Warning Window is up, then Send Keys {Return}. If you can't find Window IDs then "If image exists" might be your best bet.

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rolign on at

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This would be the first thing I would try, but it is not possible, as the popup boxes appear During the Launch Excel action, as in - it is not possible to do anything else, while it's attempting to open the file. Thinking about a script that runs separately from Power Automate and closes popup boxes automatically, currently, but still hope there could be some improvements to this Launch Excel action, something like - Close popups automatically.

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rolign on at

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I might have found a solution myself. It is actually possible to start the Excel via Powershell script, because then it opens without the popups. Afterwards all you need is just to Attach to the instance and continue with the steps.

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Neha2904 94 on at

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Can you please share the powershell script?

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rolign on at

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# start Excel
$excel = New-Object -comobject Excel.Application
$excel.EnableEvents=$false
$excel.DisplayAlerts = $false
#open file
$FilePath = %Filepath%
$workbook = $excel.Workbooks.Open($FilePath)

#make it visible (just to check what is happening)
$excel.Visible = $true

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Neha2904 94 on at

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Thanks for the response. I used the same with an additional $excel.AskToUpdateLinks = $false.

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