Why sometimes excel returns N/A or REF, just because function parameters
read from a linked sheet that is not open? Is it a bug? How can I avoid
it?

I understand the paths change accordingly whether the linked file is
open or not not, but that shouldnt be a problem:

For instance if A1 reads ='[workbook1.xls]sheet1'!A1 when the link is
open, it automatically changes to:
'C:\myfolder\workbook1.xls]sheet1'!A1, and that never represents a
problem, it will show the right value even if the current book is
calculated, or the cell copied/moved to another location, or pressing
F2 and enter.

Even if I use, for example VLOOKUP, MATCH or MID, with parameters
linked to a file that is right now closed, they work well. OFFSET and
CELL, on the other hand, return VALUE and N/A error, when the link
closes

I will not check all the excel functions, but perhaps if I could
understand why this happen with the ones I need right now I could
prevent the error on the future

The temporary solution is to open all linked files to make the errors
disapear. But that is not practical if linked files are a lot and are
really big...

I've tried unsuscesfully several excel versions, so I presume is not an
excel bug relative to a specific version...

Thanks. Paul


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Paul134
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Some functions will simply not allow you to reference a closed workbook.
It's not a bug, it's simply the way they were designed. Various ways to
deal with it, including opening up the source workbooks, or pulling in all
the data using direct links into a helper sheet, and then doing your calcs
against the helper sheet.

Try googling the newsgroups on 'closed workbook' and you'll get various
ideas on solutions.

--
Regards
Ken....................... Microsoft MVP - Excel
Sys Spec - Win XP Pro / XL 97/00/02/03

------------------------------*------------------------------*----------------
It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission :-)
------------------------------*------------------------------*----------------


"Paul134" wrote in
message ...

Why sometimes excel returns N/A or REF, just because function parameters
read from a linked sheet that is not open? Is it a bug? How can I avoid
it?

I understand the paths change accordingly whether the linked file is
open or not not, but that shouldnt be a problem:

For instance if A1 reads ='[workbook1.xls]sheet1'!A1 when the link is
open, it automatically changes to:
'C:\myfolder\workbook1.xls]sheet1'!A1, and that never represents a
problem, it will show the right value even if the current book is
calculated, or the cell copied/moved to another location, or pressing
F2 and enter.

Even if I use, for example VLOOKUP, MATCH or MID, with parameters
linked to a file that is right now closed, they work well. OFFSET and
CELL, on the other hand, return VALUE and N/A error, when the link
closes

I will not check all the excel functions, but perhaps if I could
understand why this happen with the ones I need right now I could
prevent the error on the future

The temporary solution is to open all linked files to make the errors
disapear. But that is not practical if linked files are a lot and are
really big...

I've tried unsuscesfully several excel versions, so I presume is not an
excel bug relative to a specific version...

Thanks. Paul


--
Paul134
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul134's Profile:
http://www.excelforum.com/member.php...o&userid=31735
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Thank you Ken.

Paul.


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Paul134
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