I think he means that rather than referring to the other workbook in the
main formula, in another column in the same workbook add a reference to the
cells in the other workbook, such as

='[workbook name.xls]sheet name'!A1

and then in your formula use this cell.

You can hide that column (FormatColumnsHide) if you don't want to see it.

--
HTH

Bob

(there's no email, no snail mail, but somewhere should be gmail in my addy)

"Suddes" wrote in message
...
Thanks Dave and all, I do have the analysis tool pack loaded on my source
spread sheet.
Can you give me an example of how i would include the hidded colunm in my
formula.

thanks

"Dave Peterson" wrote:

=networkdays() is part of the analysis toolpak (in xl2003 and below).

Since not everyone may have that addin loaded, I'm guessing that excel
wants to
make sure conditional formatting doesn't break.

(I sometimes use an adjacent cell (and hide the column). And put the
formula
there. Then use that cell in the CF rule.



Suddes wrote:

When using conditional formating i get the following message when
trying to
use NETWORKDAYS' function

"you may not use references to other worksheets or workbooks for
conditional
formatting criteria"
! any ideas why this would be the case

many thanks

--

Dave Peterson