There are ways to work around the .prefixcharacter problem. But I find it
easier to just not cause it.

And maybe there are multiple sending workbooks--if that number is small, I'd
still try to open them all at once. (Small purposely left vague <vbg.)

Lori wrote:

I suspect there are multiple sending workbooks as it is the folder
name that is being replaced, and if so opening all workbooks within
that folder could be troublesome.

Thanks for pointing out the prefix character steeing, I hadn't noticed
that this was a persistent setting before. I can't see it being a
major issue here though and you could get round it by outputting to
another column column in the third step of text to columns and
deleting the existing one. I also meant to add that you may need to do
an edit links update.

On 24 May, 16:12, Dave Peterson wrote:
Just a warning.

Using '= changes the .prefixcharacter setting and can cause trouble later.

I'd replace = with $$$$$=
and then edit|replace to change it back to = after the changes.

And I'd open that sending workbook, too. I bet it would calculate faster--and
maybe stop the lockup????





Lori wrote:

Try using Text to Columns to evaluate external formulas. This is much
quicker as it does not relink to the source file.

1. Replace "=" with "'=" (precede = by apostrophe to change formula to
text).
2. Replace "CM2006" with "COST MATRIX 2006"
3. Select column and then DataText to ColumnsDelimitedTabFinish to
evaluate.

On 24 May, 15:02, Rob wrote:
this is my formula
='H:\EXCELDAT\MATRIX\CM2006\[DKBSD06.XLS]FLAT BSD #2 PT'!$D$288
i need to change CM2006 to COST MATRIX 2006 in a column containing 3,500
cells.

when selecting a 3,500 cell column to replace items in the formula, i am
allowed to replace one by one, but when select replace all, excel returns $0
and then locks up.

help?

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Dave Peterson