Friction Tamer
Independent focused software

Small tools.
Specific problems solved.

Friction Tamer builds focused tools for the irritating digital problems that waste time, hide in menus, or demand far more software than they should.

Meet Excel Link Detective → How we build

Focused scope · clear pricing · local-first processing where it matters

Tame the friction.
Keep the tool simple.

No sprawling suite. No twenty features you never asked for. Each Friction Tamer tool exists to make one irritating task dramatically easier.

FocusedPracticalPurpose-built
First release

Excel Link Detective

Excel says your workbook contains external links. Link Detective tells you exactly where they are, whether they're healthy, and gives you precise ways to fix them.

v1.0.0

Find. Verify. Reveal. Fix.

Scan XLSX and XLSM workbooks for external references hidden in formulas, names, charts, conditional formatting, data validation and more—without requiring Microsoft Excel to be installed.

Local processing Windows 10/11 XLSX + XLSM Excel not required
Explore the product Download Free
Excel Link Detective
Quarterly_Forecast.xlsxC:\Finance\Reports\Quarterly_Forecast.xlsx
External sources · 3
SALES_2025.xlsx ×2 references
COSTS.xlsm ✓1 reference
OLD_PLAN.xlsx ×1 reference
TypeLocationStatus
Cell formulaInputs!D5Source missing
Cell formulaInputs!D10Source missing
RevealRetarget selectedBreak selected (1)
The Friction Tamer approach

Software that earns its place.

Every tool follows the same design rules: narrow problem, clear result, transparent actions.

01

Focused by design

We prefer one tool that solves one painful job well over a huge suite packed with unrelated features.

02

Local-first

When your files can be processed locally, they should be. Excel Link Detective does not upload workbooks for scanning or repair.

03

Explain before changing

Find the problem, show exactly where it lives, then let you choose what gets changed. Destructive actions should never be a surprise.

Simple pricing

Find problems for free. Pay once when you want to fix them.

One-time purchase. No subscription.

Free

€0

Diagnose as many workbooks as you need.

  • ✓ Scan XLSX/XLSM external links
  • ✓ Link health statuses and filters
  • ✓ Reveal exact reference locations
  • ✓ Locate/verify missing sources
  • ✓ Open resolved target workbooks
  • ✓ Export HTML/CSV reports
Download Free

Pro

€14.99

One-time purchase · perpetual licence · up to 2 activated devices.

  • ✓ Everything in Free
  • ◆ Replace a source workbook everywhere
  • ◆ Retarget selected references precisely
  • ◆ Pick target sheet/range from a spreadsheet
  • ◆ Break only selected references
  • ◆ Safe backups and post-change validation
Buy Pro — €14.99
Built for trust

Your workbook stays on your machine.

Scanning and editing are performed locally using the Office Open XML package. Licence activation can communicate with the licensing service, but your workbook contents are not sent with it.

✓ No workbook upload for scanning
✓ Timestamped backup before edits
✓ Refuses unsafe break operations
FAQ

Quick answers

Does Excel Link Detective require Microsoft Excel?

No. Core scanning, reporting, source replacement, retargeting and safe reference breaking work directly with XLSX/XLSM Open XML packages. Reveal/picker conveniences can use your installed spreadsheet application where supported.

Does it upload my workbook?

No. Workbook scanning and repair are local. The website itself also ships without analytics or advertising trackers by default.

What does “Break reference” do?

For a selected external cell formula, Link Detective removes the formula and keeps its cached result when that operation can be performed safely. If the necessary cached result is genuinely unavailable, it refuses rather than guessing.

Can I see only broken links?

Yes. Link health can be filtered to show all references, broken references, missing sources, missing targets, OK, unverified or unreadable results.

Is Pro a subscription?

No. Excel Link Detective Pro is a one-time €14.99 purchase with a perpetual licence for up to two activated devices.