Here is an example that I need confirmed as a bug:

1. Create a new workbook

2. On Worksheet 3, insert a named range named "Test" in Cell A1

3. On Worksheet 2, insert a form check box (forms toolbar) and
reference "Test" as the linked cell. In the Alternative Text, enter
this: "CB_Sheet2_ReferencesSheet3_NamedRange_test"

4. On Worksheet 2, insert a form check box (forms toolbar) and
reference "C1" as the linked cell. In the Alternative Text, enter this:
"CB_Sheet2_ReferencesSelf_C1"

5. On Worksheet 1, insert a form check box (forms toolbar) and
reference "A1" as the linked cell. In the Alternative Text, enter this:
"CB_Sheet1_ReferencesSelf_A1"

NOTE: Don't use the selector tool to reference the cell, just type it
in manually.

Press Alt+F11, and insert the following Module code (not in a form's
module or the thiswoorkbook module):

Public Function GetShapeProps()
Dim rngShapeRef As Range
Dim wks As Worksheet
Dim wks1 As Worksheet
Dim sh As Shape

For Each wks In ThisWorkbook.Worksheets
wks.Activate
Debug.Print "ActiveSheet: " & wks.Name
Dim intCounter As Integer
intCounter = 1
For Each wks1 In ThisWorkbook.Worksheets
For Each sh In wks1.Shapes
Set rngShapeRef = Range(sh.ControlFormat.LinkedCell)
Debug.Print intCounter & ": " & sh.AlternativeText & ": " &
rngShapeRef.Address(External:=True)
intCounter = intCounter + 1
Next
Next
Debug.Print ""
Next

End Function

Run that code and look at the results:

ActiveSheet: Sheet1
1: CB_Sheet1_ReferencesSelf_A1: [Book1]Sheet1!$A$1
2: CB_Sheet2_ReferencesSheet3_NamedRange_test: [Book1]Sheet3!$A$1
3: CB_Sheet2_ReferencesSelf_C1: [Book1]Sheet1!$C$1

ActiveSheet: Sheet2
1: CB_Sheet1_ReferencesSelf_A1: [Book1]Sheet2!$A$1
2: CB_Sheet2_ReferencesSheet3_NamedRange_test: [Book1]Sheet3!$A$1
3: CB_Sheet2_ReferencesSelf_C1: [Book1]Sheet2!$C$1

ActiveSheet: Sheet3
1: CB_Sheet1_ReferencesSelf_A1: [Book1]Sheet3!$A$1
2: CB_Sheet2_ReferencesSheet3_NamedRange_test: [Book1]Sheet3!$A$1
3: CB_Sheet2_ReferencesSelf_C1: [Book1]Sheet3!$C$1

Either 1 or 3 will be incorrect based on the active sheet, and if the
active sheet houses neither one, then both are wrong!!!

So, the reason I stumbled on this problem is that I've been asked to
document a workbook with many worksheets, thousands of named
references, and hundreds of controls. NOTE: These are not necessarily
workbook that I have control over for changes to be made. It is
someone elses hard work and I'm to document it, but not make changes to
it.

I'm attempting to write code to document all cell references (yes, I
have the cell reference code down), but this object/shape reference is
really messed up!

I think I have a workaround:
Loop the names collection to see if the ControlFormat.LinkedCell is a
named range or not. If it is, then use the code, otherwise use the
following line instead:

Debug.Print intCounter & ": " & sh.AlternativeText & ": [" &
ThisWorkbook.Name & "]" & wks1.Name & "!" & rngShapeRef.Address

Someone please confirm I'm not seeing things or if there is an
alternative to looping the names collection for every object (it would
be a loop over 180 times) and string comparison. It adds a lot of time
to the documentation procedure that checks for the true address of the
linked cell.

Also, this workaround is still not foolproof: What if the spreadsheet
I'm documenting has a named range named "A1" or "C1" (yes someone
*might* actually do this). Which is the control referencing? I've not
tested that yet, but this is a big nasty bug for my documentation
purposes.

Does anyone have a better way to get the *correct* cell reference every
time?

Please NO PM as I am using my "spam" mailbox to post this with. Please
reply here.