Erlang Library for Excel

Fixing Broken Links

READ THIS FIRST:

Most users never encounter the broken links problem. However, if it happens to you, then it's perplexing and you'll need help.

If you get a mesage from Excel about broken links when you open an Excel workbook that uses the Erlang functions, then close the workbook immediately without saving it. Then read the following.

How do know you have broken links?

Persons using the Erlang Library for Excel usually create Excel workbooks in which some worksheet cells contain formulas that use the Erlang worksheet functions, such as ErlcFractionOk(). Let's suppose that you have created such workbooks in the past, and that you now open one of them and receive from Excel this warning:

This is a very puzzling message (Thanks, Microsoft!). Read on to find out what to do.

What causes broken links

First we have to understand why broken links occur. Broken links happen when Excel cannot find the Erlang Library for Excel. This may happen in any of the following situations:

Erlang add-in is not installed. Erlang Library for Excel is not installed on your computer.
OR
Erlang add-in is not active. Erlang Library for Excel is installed on your computer but is an inactive add-in.
OR
Copying workbook to different computer. You copied an Excel workbook that uses the Erlang functions from one computer to another, and the Erlang Library is installed in different places on the two computers. So, for example, maybe the workbook was created on a computer where the Erlang Library for Excel was installed in C:\Program Files (x86)\AbstractMicro\Erlang, and the workbook has been copied to a computer where the Erlang Library for Excel was installed in C:\Steve\Erlang. OR
Erlang add-in has moved. In the past, you created and saved an Excel workbook using the Erlang functions. Then later on, you moved the add-in file A_Erlang.xla to a different folder on your computer. When you try to open the workbook, a broken links message occurs.
OR
Upgrading to newer version of Erlang Library for Excel. This only causes broken links if you tell the installer program (setup.exe) to install the new version of Erlang Library for Excel in a different Application Folder than you specified when you installed the earlier version of the Library.

How to fix broken links

IMPORTANT: First, make a backup copy of the Excel workbook containing the broken links. You'll need this in case something goes wrong as you try to carry out these instructions.
Determine if Erlang Library for Excel is installed on your computer. If not, install Erlang Library for Excel.
Determine if Erlang Library for Excel is open. You do this by opening Excel's Add-in Manager (File|Options|Addins) and checking if Erlang Library for Excel is listed as an "Active Application Add-in". If, on the contrary, Erlang Library for Excel is listed as an Inactive Application Add-in, then click on the "Go" button at the bottom of the screen to open Excel's Add-in activation window. Then place a check in the check box next to the Erlang Library for Excel add-in. This action converts Erlang Library for Excel to an Active Application Add-in.
Open the workbook that had broken links. If you receive no warning about links, then there is nothing else you have to do. But suppose that you do receive the broken links warning:
Press the "Update" button. Excel now displays another dialog window:
Press the "Edit Links..." button. Yet another dialog window appears:
Press the "Change Source..." button. (Don't press any of the other buttons!). Now Excel displays a standard Windows file-selector window:
Use this window to navigate to the add-in file A_Erlang.xla in the folder where you installed Erlang Library for Excel. Then press the "Open" button.
Check your workbook to see if the formulas seem to work now. If so, then save the workbook—your broken links are fixed! If there is still a problem, then close the workbook without saving changes, and start over.

Remarks