Linked fields in Word with Excel are loading slowly when both files are on a network share.


I have a Word document with 97 linked fields from an Excel file. (Office 2010)

1) Behaviour with Word and Excel file on a local (C or D) Drive:

When opening the Word document I’m asked if all the linked fields in this Word document must be updated. When I click on yes, this is done in about 10 sec. In the background Word opens the Excel file. (You see a ~ $ name.xlsx file appearing).

2) Behaviour with Word and Excel file on a network drive:

When opening the Word document I’m asked if all the linked fields in this Word document must be updated. When I click on yes, this is done, but it takes about 5 minutes before all linked fields have been modified. In the background, the Excel file is apparently opened for each link and closed again. You therefore see a ~ $ name.xlsx file appear and disappear.

Why is this behaviour different when both files are on a local drive?

As a test, I then open the Excel file manually first and then the Word file with the links. Because the Excel file is already open the linked fields are updated quickly in about 10 sec like situation 1. (The Excel file is not closed and opened for each link)

3) Behaviour with the Word file on a network drive and the Excel file locally on the C or D drive:

In this way, it works quickly like in situation 1. The Excel file is opened in the background once and not opened en closed after every linked field.

Word and Excel files will be on the network. At this time, this is not workable for us, too slow.