That would normally addressed with INDIRECT, but that only works with open
workbooks. If you want to use closed workbooks, I assume that you do, then
download and install Longre's free morefunc.xll add-in from
http://xcell05.free.fr/

--

HTH

RP
(remove nothere from the email address if mailing direct)


"Tom" wrote in message
ups.com...
Lost the touch,
Thanks in advance for ANY help or direction. I have looked thru
group, but can't find this
answer.

Excell 2003, 512ram 30gigs free

I have about 90 spreadsheets that are exactly alike. Creating a new
spreadsheet that will 'link' data from selected spreadsheets. My
link formula is ='C:\budget\[AE1.XLS]aE1'!B7.

My requirement/question is that I want to replace [AE1.xls] with a
reference to cell A1 so that if I type AE2 in cell A1 that the formula
will look like ='C:\budget\[AE2.XLS]aE2'!B7.

Again I do appreciate your help.