Hyperlinks just 'stopped' working

[Steve Rindsberg]

Au contraire, Steve -- thank you for your patience with me!

Below ae the results you asked for. Again, I've included information from
two files, the working one (nheyes) and one of the non-working ones
(nhwentworth). I should point out that none of my other PowerPoint files
with links to other slides works either. Also, FWIW, I tried running shows
from a CD-ROM created (on my Mac) before the troubles began. Links did not
work. When looked at via "Insert Hyperlink" there was nothing there; when
looked at via "Action Settings," they were invariably linked to Slide 1.
Files from the same CD-ROM run on my Windows computer perfectly and the
links show properly.

Looks like PowerPoint thinks the links are there (or the macro wouldn't display
them) but with both the Address and Subaddress blank, they're links to the deep
end of the Ozone. Nowhere.

And yet they work in the Windows version. Hmmm.

Over to you, Nancy ...

Could there be an issue with a null character or some other "line terminator"
confusing things?

================================================
Steve Rindsberg, PPT MVP
PPT FAQ: www.pptfaq.com
PPTools: www.pptools.com
================================================

 

[a.townsend]

Hi Nancy

Originally my PowerpOint files were created on 11.2.4 but since then I
have ran tests and the problems happens when I created a brand new
presentation on 11.2.5.
Like the the others, starts off fine, save and close, open it again and
all the links don't work and when I check it says it's pointing to
slide 1.
Other information that might me useful:- I use Mac's running 10.4.7 and
Office 2004.

Other tests I ran was with an un-updated copy, I chopped down the
presentation to see if the lenght/size was a factor as other have
mentioned a limit of 64k for hyperlinks and when I opened it in 11.2.5
they were corrupted.
I even copied slides from one presentation to another to see if that
made a difference but it didn't.

I hope this helps.

Andy

 

[Christopher MacLeod]

Hi, Nancy,

Here's a follow-up to my last response. Actually, one of my files does have
hyperlinks to URLs as well as to other slides and these URL links don't work
either.

New twist: I also have Office 2001 for occasional use in the Classic
environment. I never use it, but I thought I'd try it with my "failed"
files. The links work in PowerPoint 2001 on my machine.

Also, would it help if you received one of my "contaminated" files to
investigate? The reason I mention this is that once the file is
contaminated, it won't work on my Windows machine's Office 2003 either.

If it would be useful, I could put a file with non-working links onto my
file-sharing page on the Web. This file could then be compared with a
version that works, which is located elsewhere.

Chris

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

If it would be useful, I could put a file with non-working links onto my
file-sharing page on the Web. This file could then be compared with a
version that works, which is located elsewhere.

Or put one of each up there. I'd like to have a look at it.

 

[Christopher MacLeod]

Thanks, Steve. I appreciate your continuing interest.

From my own Mac, any files I work with are contaminated files. I can only
point you to files I know have not been on my machine since PowerPoint began
misbehaving.

http://homepage.mac.com/cdmacleod
Here you will find "nheyespeople," in which the hyperlinks work -- I don't
know why. They don't in any other PowerPoint file. "nhwentworths" is such a
file.

http://www.nhhistory.org/edu/support/slidesindex.htm
This page contains links to my various slide files, all of which work -- on
my Windows computer at work, that is. "The Wentworth Governors: A New
Hampshire Dynasty" is the working version of "nhwentworths."

Chris

 

[RickGreg]

Hi Christopher et al,

I'm trying to repro this problem but am not able to. For those of you
who are having this problem, where were the files originally created?
Were they created in 11.2.4? Or were they originally Windows files or
earlier versions of Mac PowerPoint?

Also, are people just having problems with hyperlinks that go to
different slides or are you having problems going to URLs as well?

This would really help me in trying to repro this hyperlink problem.

Thanks!
Nancy Cho

Nancy-

To answer your questions:

My Powerpoint file was create with Powerpoint 11.2.4 (office 11.2.5). This
was created on my mac.

I am linking to an external file (.swf format) that is located in the same
folder as the PPT file. The external file is from a colleague, an I am not
certain if he created it on a mac or windows machine.

I will try creating links to other slides and URLs and see if this
reproduces. Will report back shortly.

Hope this helps.

-Rick

 

[RickGreg]

Hi Christopher et al,

I'm trying to repro this problem but am not able to. For those of you
who are having this problem, where were the files originally created?
Were they created in 11.2.4? Or were they originally Windows files or
earlier versions of Mac PowerPoint?

Also, are people just having problems with hyperlinks that go to
different slides or are you having problems going to URLs as well?

This would really help me in trying to repro this hyperlink problem.

Thanks!
Nancy Cho

Nancy-

To follow-up my last response:

1) I created a new ppt file and created a hyperlink (using ACTION SETTINGS)
to the next slide. Worked fine, and functionaility seems to be retained
after closing and re-opening.

2) Did the same with link pointing to a web url. Worked fine and also
survived closing, opening, etc!

3) Created a new version of my original ppt file with a link to the same
external file and the problem repeated itself!

4) Created a new version of my original ppt file with a link to a DIFFERENT
external file (also located in same folder) and is working fine!

5) Redirected my original link to the other external file that did work (in
#4), and the problem continues.

 

[sjohnson717]

Also, are people just having problems with hyperlinks that go to
different slides or are you having problems going to URLs as well?

I am using a few files that were created on Office 2003 for Windows.
While using Office for Mac 11.2.4 the links worked; in 11.2.5 they
didn't. No other changes. Reverting to 11.2.4 (which wasn't easy!) the
links in all files SAVED under 11.2.5 were bad in 11.2.4. Pulling the
same file from my pre-11.2.5 update, the links are all working. All
links in my presentations go to slides.

I helped another friend through this yesterday.
His links went to other slides, other presentations, and to URLs.
We're both using Powerbook G4s with Mac OS 11.4.7.

 

[pl]

Nancy-

To follow-up my last response:

1) I created a new ppt file and created a hyperlink (using ACTION SETTINGS)
to the next slide. Worked fine, and functionaility seems to be retained
after closing and re-opening.

2) Did the same with link pointing to a web url. Worked fine and also
survived closing, opening, etc!

3) Created a new version of my original ppt file with a link to the same
external file and the problem repeated itself!

4) Created a new version of my original ppt file with a link to a DIFFERENT
external file (also located in same folder) and is working fine!

5) Redirected my original link to the other external file that did work (in
#4), and the problem continues.

hi all-
i have created files in 11.2.4 that dont work... i have also tried
opening files that are up to 3 years old (created & run in various
versions of ppt & have worked fine in the past) that the links do not
work...
the "next slide" hyperlinks do work but when you link to a specific
slide #, the link reverts back to "slide 1"
this happens on a G4 laptop, G4 dual processor, & an emac
reinstallnig the previous version of office seems to fix it (with the
error message listed in other replies)
are any of the people responding here actually work for mac or
microsoft??????

 

[Nancy Cho]

Hi Christopher, thanks for the files to try out. just to make sure I
understand...the second link is to files that "corrupt" when opened in
11.2.5? But work fine in Windows PowerPoint 2003?

I want to make sure to make copies before they "corrupt". I still have
not been able to repro the problem (that is, create the file in 11.2.4
and open in 11.2.5 - the links work fine). Am I missing a step? Do I
need to edit the links in order to lose the links?

Thanks again,
Nancy

 

[Nancy Cho]

Hi Christopher, could you let me know which files are the ones that
have links that don't work? I was downloading a bunch but didn't know
which work and which don't.

Or, if you could just email me some (that work in 11.2.4 but don't work
in 11.2.5)...that would be great.

thanks,
Nancy

 

[Nancy Cho]

Hi PL, I work for microsoft (tester for PowerPoint for Mac) and am
looking into the problem.

Actually, if you and sjohnson and other people who have files that work
in 11.2.4 but not in 11.2.5 could email me the files...that would be
great. I have tried to recreate the problem but cannot repro it. If I
have the original files in 11.2.4 (so I can see they work in 11.2.4),
hopefully I can get it to repro in 11.2.5 and get somewhere with this
problem.

Please email it to (e-mail address removed).

The more files I get that exhibit this problem, the better I will be
able to narrow down the problem (hopefully!)

Thanks,
Nancy

 

[Christopher MacLeod]

Hi, Nancy,

Just to make sure I'm clear: with the latest update -- Office 11.2.5 --
PowerPoint is listed as 11.2.4. So I will always refer to events as pre- or
post-11.2.5.

http://homepage.mac.com/cdmacleod
This page contains the four files with hyperlinks. All were created on my
Mac pre-11.2.5.

None of the hyperlinks will work now -- except for "nheyespeople." Why it
works I do not know.

If a file doesn't work on my Mac, it also will not work if I port it to my
Windows machine at work.

Thanks,

Chris

 

[Matt]

Hi, Nancy,

Just to make sure I'm clear: with the latest update -- Office 11.2.5 --
PowerPoint is listed as 11.2.4. So I will always refer to events as pre- or
post-11.2.5.

http://homepage.mac.com/cdmacleod
This page contains the four files with hyperlinks. All were created on my
Mac pre-11.2.5.

None of the hyperlinks will work now -- except for "nheyespeople." Why it
works I do not know.

If a file doesn't work on my Mac, it also will not work if I port it to my
Windows machine at work.

Thanks,

Chris

 

[Matt]

I too have the exact same problem. Hyperlinks to other slides can be
entered...but not saved. I make my living giving interactive lectures,
and this glitch is quite frustrating. I don't mind going back to an
earlier version of office if needed, but have a couple of quick
questions.

1. Will the hyperlinks automatically work in the older version, or will
they need to be "reattached?"

2. I updated to the latest version in order to avoid the "malicious"
hacking vulnerabilities. Is there a risk if I downgrade??

Thanks

Matt

 

[Nancy Cho]

Well, from what I gather from other people, as long as you don't do any
saving in 11.2.5, opening it in 11.2.4 again should still retain the
links. However, if you have saved in 11.2.5, then you need to reattach
the links.

To everyone else, I'm still working on this...thank you all for your
patience (and your files)!

Nancy

 

[Nancy Cho]

AH! I'm finally able to repro the problem! I will report the bug.
Thank you all for your help and for the files. Hopefully we'll get
something done for it.

Thanks again,
Nancy

 

[Christopher MacLeod]

Hooray, Nancy! Thanks for your efforts -- as well as those of others who
worked on the problem. I hope the solution comes soon.

Chris