I have entered the following array formula, it works fine as long as I have
the linked files open; however, if I don't then I get the #value error and
also the error message that the string is too long. How can I correct this?

=IF(A9="","",(SUMIF('[Bid Item Quantity Sheet Contract Line Item 10.xls]BID
ITEM QUANTITY SHEET'!$C$7:$C$65536,"<"&VLOOKUP($G$3,'F:\User Settings\My
Documents\My Projects\Route 60 - B686 (Contract I)\[5 C3P Inspector''s
Monthly Construction Progress Report.xls]TEMPORARY
SHUTDOWNS'!11:65336,2),'[Bid Item Quantity Sheet Contract Line Item
10.xls]BID ITEM QUANTITY SHEET'!$E$7:$E$65536)-(SUMIF('[Bid Item Quantity
Sheet Contract Line Item 10.xls]BID ITEM QUANTITY
SHEET'!$C$7:$C$65536,"<"&VLOOKUP($G$3,'F:\User Settings\My Documents\My
Projects\Route 60 - B686 (Contract I)\[5 C3P Inspector''s Monthly
Construction Progress Report.xls]TEMPORARY SHUTDOWNS'!11:65336,2),'[Bid Item
Quantity Sheet Contract Line Item 10.xls]BID ITEM QUANTITY
SHEET'!$K$7:$K$65536))))

--
Steve