XLink -- Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Overview: What is XLink - Technical Requirements
Installation / Activation: How to Get XLink - How to Activate XLink
Getting Started: Best Way to Get Started - Help
XLink Tools: Can Someone Without XLink View My Files - Supported Source Files - How to View Source -
Source Not Opening - Where to Link To - Sending Data From Internet Explorer - Missing XLink Menu
Error Messages: Could Not Locate Source - Source Document Changed - Unable to Load DLL
Temporarily Disabling XLink: How to Temporarily Disable XLink
Uninstallation: How to Uninstall XLink
Index of Resources: List of Resources
What is XLink?
XLink™ is a workflow tool for sending data from a browser-based document to Excel or a database with click-through back to the source. Financial spreadsheets (e.g., "comps") created using XLink are more valuable to decision-makers because data can be traced back to the original source and context. XLink’s workflow allows for faster and more accurate data entry and makes it feasible to analyze online source filings instead of printouts, allowing firms to outsource or offshore a variety of analytical tasks.
XLink runs within Microsoft Excel and Internet Explorer and appears on Excel’s main menu toolbar. There is also a special XLink toolbar in Internet Explorer.
Click here for more detailed information on XLink’s features.
What are the Technical Requirements for XLink?
Machine
• IBM-compatible PC, 266 MHz or higher with a Pentium II or higher CPU
• 64 MB RAM recommended minimum. More RAM generally improves performance
• 40 MB available hard disk space (includes 14 MB of optional help files and 10 MB of temporary installation files
• Internet connectivity
Software
• PC: Windows NT 4.0 SP 3+ or Windows 98, 2000, or XP; Macintosh: Virtual Windows
• Microsoft Excel 2000 or higher
• Internet Explorer 5 or higher
Installation / Activation
How do I get XLink?
Then simply follow the installation prompts and viola! – XLink‘s welcome message should automatically appear the next time you open Microsoft Excel along with a “XLink” menu on Excel’s main menu bar. (If you don’t see XLink, contact our support team for assistance.)
If you encounter any problems during installation or simply want more information about the installation process, please visit our DealMaven Product Installation forum.
New users automatically receive a 60-day free trial of the XLink. The product will warn you when your free trial is about to expire.
Once the trial period is up, you’ll receive an expiration message each time you open Excel or attempt to use any of XLink’s features. To use XLink after the trial period, you’ll need to activate your copy of the product as detailed below.
How do I activate XLink?
If you’ve purchased XLink for Excel, please follow the DealMaven Product Activation instructions to activate the product. If you’re receiving expiration messages and wish to continue using XLink, click here to purchase it.
If you have difficulty activating your copy of XLink or want to know more about the activation process, please visit our DealMaven Product Activation forum. If you can’t find the answers you’re looking for there, you can also contact our support team for assistance.
Getting Started
What’s the best way to get started using XLink?
We realize it may be daunting the first time you try and use XLink, therefore, we’ve developed a Reference guide to aid you. This printable PDF contains an overview of the product and instructions on how to get started with the product’s top time-saving tools. We recommend that you print it on one double-sided page for easy desktop reference.
Where can I find in-depth help documentation and other technical support for XLink?
You can access XLink’s full help documentation at the bottom of the ‘XLink’ menu in Excel.
Additional assistance is available through this forum or by contacting our support team.
XLink Tools
Can I send my XLinked Excel file to someone without XLink installed on their computer?
Absolutely! XLink does not need to be installed to view an XLinked file. If XLink is not installed, the user will be able to view the file as normal, but will not be able to view the source files associated with linked data. The data will appear like regular Excel inputs. You will be glad to know, that even if someone without XLink views your XLinked file, and even if they add data to that file, your link information will be preserved. However, please note that if anyone changes XLinked data to regular inputs, your link information will be lost.
What kind of source files can I pull data from to link with Excel?
Currently, XLink fully supports linking with any .htm, .html, or .mht (Archived Web Page) file. Linking to .txt is not recommended.
How do I see the source file for data in an XLinked Excel file?
If you have XLink installed, simply navigate to the cell and locate the Deal Maven Formula Bar. If you don’t see the Formula Bar, simply go to the XLink menu and make sure the ‘Formula Toolbar’ option is checked. The Formula Bar will either appear with the rest of your toolbars on the top of the screen (see first screenshot) or it will be a floating toolbar (see second screenshot). To see the source file for the data in a particular cell, simply double click the value that appears after the ‘=’ sign in the Formula Bar. This should open the source file automatically and locate the value by highlighting it.
Why is my source document not opening properly after I click on the value in the Formula Toolbar?
There could be a few reasons why this is occurring.
Make sure the data actually has a link attached to it. To do this navigate to the cell and hover your mouse over the value that appears in the Deal Maven Formula Bar (if you don’t see the Formula Bar, simply go to the XLink menu and make sure the ‘Formula Toolbar’ option is checked). When you hover over the value, it should say “Click here to view the source document…” If you don’t see that, the data in that cell is not linked
If it is linked, make sure the source file is still in existence. If you originally linked to a website, make sure that the site hasn’t changed its content or moved. XLink will first look for the source file where it originally linked to on the internet or your local network, if that fails, XLink will check your local computer’s directory (the same directory where you Excel file is located) and will check for the source file there as well. For documents posted to the internet that may change or move, we recommend saving those files to your local machine or network drive.
Where should I link my Excel data to?
XLink fully supports linking with any .htm, .html, or .mht (Archived Web Page) file. For source documents that do not change (static web pages), you can link directly to a file on the Internet. For files on the Internet that may change or move, we recommend saving those files to your local machine or network drive and then linking to them. To save a webpage to your local machine in Internet Explorer, simply go to ‘File→Save As…’ and save the file as either as a .mht or .html file. Please note, that if you save the webpage as a .html file sometimes there will be an accompanying folder that is saved with the .html file that needs to stay in the same directory as the .html file.
Why am I not able to send data from Internet Explorer to Excel?
Please verify that XLink is ‘ON’ in Internet Explorer. On the XLink Toolbar in Internet Explorer there is a button that toggles XLink on and off. If you don’t see the toolbar, simply go to View→Toolbars and select ‘DealMaven XLink Toolbar.”
Why is my XLink menu missing from the menu bar in Excel?
Verify that XLink has been installed on the user’s machine/profile.
Check that XLink is not a disabled item, and enable it if it is (HelpàAbout Microsoft Excel or WordàDisabled Items). Once re-enabled, restart Excel.
If the XLink menu is still not displayed in Excel, follow the steps below
Close Excel and rename the file named “Excel11.xlb” (located in the C:\Documents and Settings\(your user profile folder)\Application Data\Microsoft\Excel folder. If you don’t see the “Application Data” folder then you need to enable hidden folders. Simply go to ToolsàFolder OptionsàView and select ‘Show Hidden Files and Folders’ then click ’OK’ to exit. After that, restart Excel. Excel will regenerate this file the next time it is opened and the XLink menu should now be available.
Error Messages
Why am I getting an error message that says “Could not locate the source document” or “A document with the correct path or URL was found, but its contents appears to have changed.”
This error message means that the source document to which your data in Excel is linked has been modified, moved, or deleted. In order for XLink to work properly, the source document must be “static,” meaning that the content needs to stay unchanged. For files on the Internet that may change or move, we recommend saving those files to your local machine or network drive and then linking to them. To save a webpage to your local machine in Internet Explorer, simply go to File→Save As… and save the file as either as a .mht or .html file. (Please note that if you save the webpage as a .html file, sometimes there will be an accompanying folder saved with the .html file that needs to stay in the same directory as the .html file.)
Why am I getting a message saying “The Source document appears to have changed since the requested link was created?”
This message means that the source document you linked to has been modified. XLink will try to locate the corresponding data anyways if you choose ‘Yes’, but please keep in mind that XLink is only guaranteed to operate properly when the source file remains unchanged.
Why am I getting an “Unable to load the file [.dll file] from the [DealMaven Product Name]” error?
This error is caused by a DLL file that is either missing or unregistered. Installation of the software was either interrupted or not done correctly. The XLink package needs to be reinstalled to correct the issue.
If you still have difficulties, please contact our support team for assistance. If you are a corporate client, please call your help desk.
Temporarily Disabling XLink
How do I temporarily disable XLink?
To temporarily disable XLink, open Windows Explorer and browse to the ‘C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\DealMaven’ folder, where USERNAME is your Windows username. (If you don’t see the “Application Data” folder then you need to enable hidden folders. Simply go to ToolsàFolder OptionsàView and select ‘Show Hidden Files and Folders, then click ’OK’ to exit. Also, if the ‘DealMaven’ folder does not exist, go ahead and create it). In this folder, right-click and select ‘NewàText Document’ to create a new file named ‘XLink_OFF.txt’. The next time you open Microsoft Excel, XLink will not load.
To re-enable XLink, simply rename or delete the aforementioned file.
Uninstallation
How do I uninstall XLink?
To PERMANENTLY uninstall XLink:
- Close Excel and all Internet Explorer windows.
- In Windows, select ‘StartàControl PanelàAdd or Remove Programs’.
- Select DealMaven XLink for Excel from the list and remove the program.
Please contact our support team if you require assistance.
Index of Resources
XLinkProduct Page: Learn about XLink, view demonstrations of the product’s key features and concepts, read testimonials, and purchase the product from this web page.
XLink in Action: View a brief summary of XLink’s tools with this detailed screenshot
XLink Reference Guide: This printable PDF contains an overview of the product and instructions on how to get started with the product’s top time-saving tools. We recommend that you print it on one double-sided page for easy desktop reference.
Product Installation Instructions: This forum post has detailed instructions on how to install all DealMaven products.
Product Activation Instructions: If you’ve purchased a subscription or a permanent license for XLink, go to this forum to get instructions on how to activate your copy of the product and use it beyond the 60-day trial period.