thanks for your help I changed it to the following and it is working
=INDIRECT("'[master workbook.xls]"&A1&"'!$F$12")

"djames2007" wrote:

This may be confusing but we have a detail workbook for each job (3107,3108,
3109, ...) each detail workbook has cells tied to the master workbook (the
3108 is the sheet name in the master workbook). When I start a new job I use
the workbook from the last job and resave it as the new job I have the job
(3107,3108,3109,...) entered in cell a1 how can I use the value of cell a1 in
place of the 3108 in my formula(s) so I only change it in cell a1 (one time)
Any help would be appreciated it would be a big time saver for me