Concatenate path and file string for external reference

I am trying to create a linked external reference by concatinating the
info together.
I have in 3 cells:

path file sheet
H:\Dev\ [fromModel.xls] Sheet1'!$B4

I concat them to create what should be the reference
='H:\Dev\[fromModel.xls]Sheet1'!$B4

But it just returns the string. How do I get it to evaluate?

Normally with something like this you would then use the INDIRECT
function. However, this does not work on closed workbooks.

If it is important to you, you can download a free add-in called
morefunc (do a Google search for sites where this can be downloaded),
and this gives you a new function which can be used like this:

=INDIRECT.EXT(cell)

where cell contains your concatenated reference.

Hope this helps.

Pete

On Jan 13, 4:58*pm, Michael > wrote:
> I am trying to create a linked external reference by concatinating the
> info together.
> I have in 3 cells:
>
> path * *file * *sheet
> H:\Dev\ [fromModel.xls] Sheet1'!$B4
>
> I concat them to create what should be the reference
> ='H:\Dev\[fromModel.xls]Sheet1'!$B4
>
> But it just returns the string. How do I get it to evaluate?

Use the INDIRECT function.
--
David Biddulph

"Michael" > wrote in message
...
>I am trying to create a linked external reference by concatinating the
> info together.
> I have in 3 cells:
>
> path file sheet
> H:\Dev\ [fromModel.xls] Sheet1'!$B4
>
> I concat them to create what should be the reference
> ='H:\Dev\[fromModel.xls]Sheet1'!$B4
>
> But it just returns the string. How do I get it to evaluate?

On Jan 13, 12:19*pm, "David Biddulph" <groups [at] biddulph.org.uk>
wrote:
> Use the INDIRECT function.
> --
> David Biddulph
>
> "Michael" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
>
>
> >I am trying to create a linked external reference by concatinating the
> > info together.
> > I have in 3 cells:
>
> > path file sheet
> > H:\Dev\ [fromModel.xls] Sheet1'!$B4
>
> > I concat them to create what should be the reference
> > ='H:\Dev\[fromModel.xls]Sheet1'!$B4
>
> > But it just returns the string. How do I get it to evaluate?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I cant seem to get indirect to work. Can someone give me an example of
how it would work with the concatenation of the path\file\sheet
\cellref.
Also is there a way to make the string with the = sign in front of it
evaluate instead of returning the concatenated string (a way around
indirect)?
thanks.

Please note my earlier comments - INDIRECT will not work with closed
workbooks. If the workbook is open, then you don't need to bother
about the full path.

Anyway, here's an example of using indirect within the same sheet:

=INDIRECT("B"&(3*ROW(A1))

In copying this down to adjacent rows, it effectively returns:

=B3
=B6
=B9

etc.

The answer to your last question is no.

Download morefunc and use INDIRECT.EXT.

Hope this helps.

Pete

On Jan 13, 7:51*pm, Michael > wrote:
> On Jan 13, 12:19*pm, "David Biddulph" <groups [at] biddulph.org.uk>
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Use the INDIRECT function.
> > --
> > David Biddulph
>
> > "Michael" > wrote in message
>
> ....
>
> > >I am trying to create a linked external reference by concatinating the
> > > info together.
> > > I have in 3 cells:
>
> > > path file sheet
> > > H:\Dev\ [fromModel.xls] Sheet1'!$B4
>
> > > I concat them to create what should be the reference
> > > ='H:\Dev\[fromModel.xls]Sheet1'!$B4
>
> > > But it just returns the string. How do I get it to evaluate?- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> I cant seem to get indirect to work. Can someone give me an example of
> how it would work with the concatenation of the path\file\sheet
> \cellref.
> Also is there a way to make the string with the = sign in front of it
> evaluate instead of returning the concatenated string (a way around
> indirect)?
> thanks.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -