Reporting status of external references in a spreadsheet without updating

A system for reporting the status of a link associated with a spreadsheet application program, the link referring to a source, the system comprising:

• means for receiving an indication to check the status of the link;
• means for initiating a procedure to check the status of the link including a prompt to check the status of the link;
• means for determining the status of the link by verifying that the source exists including analyzing the source to identify specific information associated with the source before updating the link;
• and
• means for displaying the status of the link utilizing information identified in determining the status of the link.

A computer-readable medium including computer-executable code for performing a method for determining the status of a link in a client workbook of a spreadsheet application, wherein the link is associated with a source file, the method comprising:

• initiating a procedure to check the status of the link including prompting a user to check the status of a link;
• determining the status of the link by examining whether the source file exists and is in a proper format including rarely encountered link problems before updating the link;
• and,
• displaying a textual indication of the status of the link.

A system including computer-executable code causing the system to perform a method for reporting the status of a link in a spreadsheet application, the link referring to a source, the method comprising:

• receiving a prompt to check the status of the link;
• initiating a procedure to check the status of the link;
• determining the status of the link by checking whether the source exists and has a proper format before updating the link;
• and
• displaying the status of the link.

A computer-readable medium including computer-executable code for performing a method for reporting the status of a link in a spreadsheet application, the link referring to a source, the method comprising:

• receiving a prompt to check the status of the link;
• initiating a procedure to check the status of the link;
• determining the status of the link by checking whether the source exists and has a proper format before updating the link;
• and
• displaying the status of the link.

A computer-readable medium including computer-executable code for performing a method for reporting the status of a link associated with a spreadsheet application program, the link referring to a source, the method comprising:

• receiving an indication to check the status of the link;
• initiating a procedure to check the status of the link including a prompt to check the status of the link;
• determining the status of the link by verifying that the source exists including analyzing the source to identify specific information associated with the source before updating the link;
• and
• displaying the status of the link utilizing information identified in determining the status of the link.