I have an Excel spreadsheet with links in it going to other
spreadsheets. When I click on a link, and it's a link to a file that's in
use by another person, I get a message that the linked file is being modified
and that I can either open it as read only or I can cancel. If I click on
"Ok" to open as read only, the document hangs and I eventually have to end
task.

However, I can open the linked document directly as read only without a
problem.

Is the lock-up of Excel caused because I'm trying to link to an already
opened Excel file? Is it possible to link to files that are being updated
throughout the course of the day?

I'm using Excel 2003.

Thanks.