How to convert filenames to links en masse

I have a spreadsheet with a column that contains absolute file paths. There are thousands of these. I would like to convert each one to a link to that file. Is there a way to do that? Thanks.

Hello,

assuming the absolute path to the file is in cell A1 use: =HYPERLINK(A1,A1) and copy down all the rows.

Tested using LibreOffice:

Version: 6.4.3.2; Build ID: 747b5d0ebf89f41c860ec2a39efd7cb15b54f2d8
CPU threads: 8; OS: Linux 4.12; UI render: default; VCL: kf5; 
Locale: en-US (en_US.UTF-8); UI-Language: en-US; Calc: threaded

Hope that helps.

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Thanks! Actually, that doesn’t work for me, because I am using version 5.xxx (don’t ask why), which apparently has a different evaluation order, so the self reference leads to an error (err 522, whatever that might be). However, creating a new column to avoid the self reference problem does indeed work.

If you are still reading this, could you point out how I could have discovered that function, and the semantics of the arguments, on my own?

Of course do not enter the formula in A1 but for example B1. Then pull/copy-paste down.

Couldn’t imagine in 100 years this being an issue :frowning:

If you are still reading this, could you point out how I could have discovered that function

yes - LibreOffice Help and type hyperlink into the search box

If you are still reading this, could you point out how I could have discovered that function, and the semantics of the arguments, on my own?

By reading documentation?

Go to help, pick Module Calc, enter hyperlink, click HYPERLINK function.

Or see the Calc Guide.

@pbfoobar: Please mark the answer as accepted. See Guidelines for Asking.

@erAck So, you couldn’t resist the temptation to be snide?