Mike,

Referencing a closed workbook is hard, but Harlan Grove has cracked it. This
link refers back to a previous post that explains the technique.
http://tinyurl.com/2lqj4

You might be able to use this in CF (haven't tried it myself).

--

HTH

Bob Phillips
... looking out across Poole Harbour to the Purbecks
(remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)

"Mike-hime" wrote in message
...
I want to set up the conditional formatting on a cell in such a way that
if
the number entered into the cell does not exist in a database (another
workbook,) that cell will change colors. The trouble I am having is in
referencing the database workbook while it is not open. There must be a
.find function I can use to look in an xls file on the local drive to
accomplish this? If anyone could give me suggestions, I would appreciate
it
:)

-Mike