Hi Jessica,

Not sure if I understand your problem completely. But if Book 1 is a result
of a query from an Access database and your user community doesn't have
Access why not create another query in Book 2 which references Bool 1 and
then your users can get the updates. Again, I'm not sure if I've captured
your requirements.

In XL 20003
Select Data
Select Import Data
Select New database query
Select Excel files
proceed with your query.

HTH,
John

"Jessica" wrote:

Hi, I posted this over in Excel Links but I don't think it gets much traffic.

I have book1 that has a query that brings down a list from access (name=
Project). I need to use this list in a drop down box (validation). I also
need to update the list periodically.

The problem is that my users are opening the spreadsheet as a template and
may need updates while using it. They do not have Access so they can't do
the update.

So, I wanted to create book1 with the list & query. Then have the template
(book2) reference the list in book1.

I tried:
1) doing a copy/paste/named range macro but that just seems like a workaround
2) creating a named range in book2 that references book1 but it only works
when book1 is open.

Any suggestions?