I built the word document on my usb stick. Everything updated automatically, even "in real time".  I had to move both files to a network folder. So i broke all the links and inserted the corresponding new ones in Word. So far so good.  Now Word does not update the links automatically anymore. Even after changing the update method to auto and saving. or after closing and reopening. It just does not update automatically. I know how to get into the dialogue for changing the update method, but nothing changes when I change the update method, which mysteriously changes to manual every time i reopen the doc. How can I solve this problem?  I might add, that I use the same software on the same computer and the version i had on the usb stick still works. Also the manual update still works, i.e. selecting all the links and clicking update has the desired effect. I searched for answers left and right and could not find anything online. Please help, I am going nuts:)
PS: The classic: Confirm that you have auto update turned on: Office button / Word Options button / Advanced option / General section. turn on check mark for "Update Automatic Links at Open". is confirmed as described above.

Thanks for the help!   

Hi,

This is a quick note to let you know that we are looking into this issue and will get back to you as soon as possible. Appreciate your patience.

 

Hi,

Can you do a couple of things so we can narrow down where the issue may be.

(1). Can you create a new word document with a new link and have it all local to the machine.

Make sure the updates links at Open is checked (again).

Does this one get updated automatically and do you get prompted when opening the file to choose to update the links or not?

 

(2). Create a new Word file and a new link and save to the network location.

Does this one work?

 

(3). One the document that is not working, can you press ALT F9 and reveal the field codes for the links and list what the entire field code says please?

 Thanks,

I have had the same problem but with a much simpler case.

Word 2010.

Create a document.

Insert a text file as link.

Verify that automatic updating at open checkbox is checked.

Save.

Change the contents at the link.

Come back.

Not updated.

Hover over field; right click; update; it updates.

So, I don't see anything on this thread for a while. Does that mean the problem is not solved?

I think this is a different problem, because there are different kinds of link in Word (links to text files, links to image files, and links to OLE objects such as Excel objects), and they do behave differently. Of course, from a user perspective, it would probably be better of those differences were better hidden.

Granted .. these may be different problems. Or, they may be the same. In either case, it looks to me like at least one problem is unsolved.

In the case above, it is a simple text file included as text, linked. I notice that when I hover over the checkbox for "update at open" it says something about "not supported in the current view". So, I change to "draft" view. I don't get that message. I close, I reopen. View has changed back away from draft view.

So .. can anyone demonstrate a case where this actually works? BTW, same problem in Word 2013.

Thank you.

Has this issue been resolved because I am having the same problem and I cannot find a resolution on the boards.

Has this issue been resolved, because I am having the same problem.

Having the same problem, even when I recreated everything from the share it works but when you save it and open it again all the links are broken. When you create the document on your desktop it works every time. But when word/excel needs to use \\share it breaks the links, when local c:\ it works.. Microsoft can you do something about this?

I was having a similar problem using Word 2010 with paste-links, of unformatted text from cells of an Excell Workbook. When I reopened the Word .docx the previously linked object gives "This object is corrupt or no longer available." I could just re-paste-link any one on them and all would be re-linked. -not exactly a glamorous work-around.

After reading some of the posts, I moved both files from a network drive to my local drive. When I opened the .docx from there it immedialty prompted "This document contains links that may refer to other files. Do you want to update this document with the data from the linked files?"  This obvoiuosly fixed the problem other than I would much rather keep the files on a backed-up network drive. -not exactly a network enabled product. Anyone at Microsoft listening?

The issue probably has more to do with your network setup than with MS Office. perhaps there's too much latency in the network, or a permissions issue. The fact the links work happily on your local drive would seem to confirm that.

I am having the exact same problem with the exception that even manually trying to update will not work.   In our office we are not allowed to remove these files from the network and cannot establish them on a local drive.  The tech here has been working with me to resolve any network problems and as far as he can tell there should BE no problem.

I have gone through all the same steps, all the Trust Features, etc., and still not working.  It's as if Word now turns what 'should' be a dynamic linked chart into a static picture.   I have been working with these for years, and since updating to the 'new improved' versions of Word and Excel,  I have been struggling with this for 3 months now each month-end when I have 7 workbooks, with 3 worksheets each, with each worksheet having 3 charts.

It is extremely frustrating that it used to work JUST fine in the former versions until our office updated to the new versions of Word and Excel.