Excel Slicers Not Working or Data Not Found

Error message: We couldn't get data from an external data source. Please try again later. If the problem persists, please contact the administrator for the external data source. Here is the error message that was returned from the Analysis Server named http://...; Query (#, #) The '&[#]' member was not found in the cube when the string, [Scenario].[SA - Scenario].[Scenario].&[#], was parsed. 

External Data or Query Not Found

Note: FYI that Excel slicers can become volatile and problematic when a file is connected to an external data source. We do not advise using slicers for these reasons and do not have the ability to troubleshoot them.

Description: This is a Microsoft Excel limitation which most commonly presents when the file has slicers enabled and/or is older and has become stale; meaning it can no longer connect to its external sources, such as a remote server. A possible example of this is when a Scenario has been archived or had been removed in Catalyst and Microsoft cannot reach our server to update the related tab, filter, or slicer in Excel. If you can locate the affected tab and delete it, you may be able to avoid having to rebuild the entire document.

Solution: Rebuild the file.

1. Pull down a blank cube file from Catalyst. 
2. Copy all of the tabs from the problem file and paste into the new file. 
3. Be sure to select/choose "Overwrite" and don't rename it when prompted.
4. The file should now be usable.