Calc Paste Special Source: Unknown source - how to get data?

I am trying to use the DDE function in Calc (on Windows 10), but when I try to use the Edit/Paste Special dialog, I see Source: Unknown source, and am only offered selections of Unformatted text and Use text import dialog (and not an option of link). Then, when I continue to the text import dialog, the cells contain =DDE calls, but the data is #N/A . So, does anyone have suggestions on how to cause data to appear in the cells?

Do you have a clipboard manager? They often reduce the options available for pasting.

@EarnestAl, thanks for the reply. Today I encountered a helpful error message, “Automatic updating of external links has been disabled,” and enabling links has resulted in data appearing in the cells. I’ve revised the question to more accurately describe my objective, to have data updates appear in the pasted cells.

I was able to see data in the cells by pasting in text containing =DDE calls from the clipboard, and then using the Edit/Links to External Files dialog box to set cells to automatically update.