Can you disable the automatic following of hyperlinks in Excel?

Hello,

This has frustrated me for years now. Is there any way in Excel to *stop* the annoying 'click on a cell with a hyperlink and it automatically follows the hyperlink' behavior?

I know in Word the default is 'Control-click to follow hyperlink'. You can even choose whether or not to use the 'Control-click' method, or just enable direct clicking for following hyperlinks. This is exactly the control I would like to see in Excel for following hyperlinks.

Too many times my work is interrupted because I have to stop and shut down a stupid browser or file popup that I didn't intend to open, all because I didn't hold down the mouse button long enough when selecting a cell with a hyperlink (for editing, cutting and pasting, sorting, whatever). Every single time, it's one of those "argh, there's GOT to be a better way!" moments.

Is this option (enable 'Control-click' method) available in any newer versions of Excel? Or, (preferred) is there any way to get this behavior shoehorned into Excel 2003? I'm not afraid of some rudimentary VBA, if that's what's needed...but since I have no idea how to override the basic program's handling of hyperlinks, I'd definitely need some pointers in the right direction...perhaps a few nudges, or even a shove

Thanks,
CC

I too have been wondering this and figured it out after a little digging in Excel options.

In 2003 I believe it is as follows:
Tools > Options > Spelling
Press "AutoCorrect Options" Button
AutoFormat As You Type Tab
Remove Check from "Internet and network paths with hyperlinks"
OK
OK

In 2007:
Office Button > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options > AutoFormat As You Type
Uncheck "Internet and network paths with hyperlinks"
OK
OK

Thanks for the quick reply, Fcroft!

Unfortunately, that's close, but not quite what I'm looking for. That will prevent Excel from generating hyperlinks from text you type in (converting email addresses to mailto: links, for example) but it doesn't do anything if you already have a hyperlink assigned to a cell.

I have several sheets with columns that contain hyperlinks, and I do want the hyperlinks in there for others to be able to use (so just removing them all isn't an option), I just don't want Excel to open a browser or a linked file every time I click on a cell containing a hyperlink. If I want to follow the hyperlink in the cell, I am more than willing to use 'Control-click' or 'Shift-click' or some such deliberate action to follow it. Heck, I'd even be happy if it would pop up with a query box, something like "Do you want to open this external link? Yes/No" instead of assuming that I never click on things by accident...then bogging down my computer opening a browser or other application that I just wind up closing right away (while muttering not-nice words under my breath).

Thanks for the suggestion, tho!
CC

Hmmm...this link is very interesting! Thanks shg!

This looks like it has some ideas to get the sheet set up the way I want it to work, however it will be a bit of a PITA to:
a) write the macro code to auto-convert existing sheets with hyperlinks to click-friendly hyperlinks (most if not all of the sheets I need are copied/pasted from our web-based CMS, so all of those hyperlinks would have to be shifted to their screentips), and
b) explain to others using the sheets how to actually access the hyperlinks (i guess the popup window does that adequately enough, although I'd possibly look at trying to implement pseudo Control-Click functionality via event handling...hmmm...more research needed...)

It's a brutal kludge-fix for something that should be a simple Options parameter, but it's a starting point. Thanks very much for the link!
CC

Hi Carrot -

I know that this may sound rudimentary, but I would simply suggest using the keyboard more than the mouse. Start learning easy shortcuts that help you navigate around a spreadsheet without having to use the mouse. In this case, navigating over to a cell you want to edit with the keyboard and then clicking F2 lets you edit the cell without having to click on it.

(It's more ergonomical as well)

I am using 2007 and have inserted shapes that have links. When I try to move these images with the first mouse button, I get immediately taken to the page in my document I have linked to. I have to right-click, then click off the image, then click the image to drag it in place. Ctrl-click was a way to get around this and was much simpler. I am also looking for a way to make the dragging of hyperlinked text boxes and shapes easier.

Fcroft- that was exactly what I was looking for (even if it didn't help the original poster). Thanks so much!

Thank you. This post helped me.