Not sure I follow question
Here is an exercise that will not upset you files while you experiment.
Open one of your files (let us pretend it is called File_A)
Open a new workbook, type = and then click on a cell in File_A
You should see a formula such as ='[File_A.xls]Sheet1'!$C$1

Is this what is needed? Come back with more info, it not.
best wishes

--
Bernard V Liengme
www.stfx.ca/people/bliengme
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"Eric P" <Eric wrote in message
...
Is it possible to have two spreadsheets in two different files and cross
reference the data using excel vs. manually hand checking the sheets. The
sheets are using text not numbers.