Okay, I'm trying to get the INDIRECT function to look up a UNC address
stored in another cell so based upon this formula:

=VLOOKUP("my data",INDIRECT("'C:\temp\[spreadsheet.xls]sheet1'!$C$12:$I
$17"),1,FALSE)

....you would think that this would work:

=VLOOKUP("my data",INDIRECT(A1),1,FALSE)

....where cell A1 contains the UNC pathway C:\temp\
[spreadsheet.xls]sheet1'!$C$12:$I$17

but it doesn't, hence my post. So I tried changing the formula to
this:

=VLOOKUP("my data",INDIRECT("'C:\blank\[spreadsheet.xls]sheet1'!$C
$12:$I$17"),1,FALSE)

....and using this...

=SUBSTITUTE(E11, "blank", G12)

(E11 being the cell where the VLOOKUP is, G12 being the data to
complete the UNC address)

I've searched many forums and learned a lot, coming close to solving
this on a couple of occasions - but still no cigar. A techy at work
said the INDIRECT function cannot parse a text string which is why
it's not working. So how do I make it otherwise??? Thanks for looking