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#1
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It works but why...?
Can someone explain this to me, so that I can better understand what is
happening:- We are a print company and we want to give our customer an estimating workbook, that is made up of lots of different calculations, based on about 20 different types of variable. The value of these 20 variables change from customer to customer, and they will be for things like price of a printing plate, or price to run the printing press etc etc. The estimating workbook would therefore, for example, be able to specify how many printing plates are needed, and given the price for the printing plates for that particular customer, thereby calculate a total printing plate price which will be part of the overall price. In order to maintain the confidentiallity of these 20 individual variables, the workbook gives only the final price per printed output - ie the overall price. Also in order to maintain confidentiallity, I have written the estimating workbook separate from the variables worksheet - the estimating workbook uses links to the variables worksheet to calculate the final price. We send the customer just the estimating workbook, and not the variables worksheet (as we obviously dont want them to see the individual variables). Yet the estimating workbook still works for them, even though they cannot open the link to the variables worksheet - which is what I dont understand. Are the variables in fact somehow encoded intot the estimating workbook, and therefore not as hidden as we first thought? When I have tried sending just the estimating workbook to another PC that does not have access to the variables worksheet, the estimating workbook works fine, and I cannot "find" the data from the variables worksheet (other than that I know it is part of the calculation within the estimating workbook), which makes me think it is still kept hidden. Does this make sense?! Will |
#2
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Hello Will,
Great explanation, but I'm afraid it doesn't do much, for me anyway. Can you post some of your actual formulas? Without looking at any actual data, it gets a little difficult to troubleshoot something like this. As I am unsure of your data setup/structure, I hesitate to go any further as it would be a lot of speculation. -- Regards, Zack Barresse, aka firefytr, (GT = TFS FF Zack) "will" wrote in message ... Can someone explain this to me, so that I can better understand what is happening:- We are a print company and we want to give our customer an estimating workbook, that is made up of lots of different calculations, based on about 20 different types of variable. The value of these 20 variables change from customer to customer, and they will be for things like price of a printing plate, or price to run the printing press etc etc. The estimating workbook would therefore, for example, be able to specify how many printing plates are needed, and given the price for the printing plates for that particular customer, thereby calculate a total printing plate price which will be part of the overall price. In order to maintain the confidentiallity of these 20 individual variables, the workbook gives only the final price per printed output - ie the overall price. Also in order to maintain confidentiallity, I have written the estimating workbook separate from the variables worksheet - the estimating workbook uses links to the variables worksheet to calculate the final price. We send the customer just the estimating workbook, and not the variables worksheet (as we obviously dont want them to see the individual variables). Yet the estimating workbook still works for them, even though they cannot open the link to the variables worksheet - which is what I dont understand. Are the variables in fact somehow encoded intot the estimating workbook, and therefore not as hidden as we first thought? When I have tried sending just the estimating workbook to another PC that does not have access to the variables worksheet, the estimating workbook works fine, and I cannot "find" the data from the variables worksheet (other than that I know it is part of the calculation within the estimating workbook), which makes me think it is still kept hidden. Does this make sense?! Will |
#3
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By all means send me a copy and I'll take a look at what you have in there
vs what you don't. If I read you correctly you have two workbooks, one with calcs and one with variables, with the calcs one referencing the variables one. You then send out just the one with calcs but it still appears to be able to reference the variables one? Is that correct? -- Regards Ken....................... Microsoft MVP - Excel Sys Spec - Win XP Pro / XL 97/00/02/03 ------------------------------*------------------------------*---------------- It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission :-) ------------------------------*------------------------------*---------------- "will" wrote in message ... Can someone explain this to me, so that I can better understand what is happening:- We are a print company and we want to give our customer an estimating workbook, that is made up of lots of different calculations, based on about 20 different types of variable. The value of these 20 variables change from customer to customer, and they will be for things like price of a printing plate, or price to run the printing press etc etc. The estimating workbook would therefore, for example, be able to specify how many printing plates are needed, and given the price for the printing plates for that particular customer, thereby calculate a total printing plate price which will be part of the overall price. In order to maintain the confidentiallity of these 20 individual variables, the workbook gives only the final price per printed output - ie the overall price. Also in order to maintain confidentiallity, I have written the estimating workbook separate from the variables worksheet - the estimating workbook uses links to the variables worksheet to calculate the final price. We send the customer just the estimating workbook, and not the variables worksheet (as we obviously dont want them to see the individual variables). Yet the estimating workbook still works for them, even though they cannot open the link to the variables worksheet - which is what I dont understand. Are the variables in fact somehow encoded intot the estimating workbook, and therefore not as hidden as we first thought? When I have tried sending just the estimating workbook to another PC that does not have access to the variables worksheet, the estimating workbook works fine, and I cannot "find" the data from the variables worksheet (other than that I know it is part of the calculation within the estimating workbook), which makes me think it is still kept hidden. Does this make sense?! Will |
#4
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Thanks for the replies.
Ken - yes, more succinctly put than me, but yes! I have emailed you the spreadsheets so you can see what I mean. Regards, Will "Ken Wright" wrote: By all means send me a copy and I'll take a look at what you have in there vs what you don't. If I read you correctly you have two workbooks, one with calcs and one with variables, with the calcs one referencing the variables one. You then send out just the one with calcs but it still appears to be able to reference the variables one? Is that correct? -- Regards Ken....................... Microsoft MVP - Excel Sys Spec - Win XP Pro / XL 97/00/02/03 ------------------------------Â*------------------------------Â*---------------- It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission :-) ------------------------------Â*------------------------------Â*---------------- "will" wrote in message ... Can someone explain this to me, so that I can better understand what is happening:- We are a print company and we want to give our customer an estimating workbook, that is made up of lots of different calculations, based on about 20 different types of variable. The value of these 20 variables change from customer to customer, and they will be for things like price of a printing plate, or price to run the printing press etc etc. The estimating workbook would therefore, for example, be able to specify how many printing plates are needed, and given the price for the printing plates for that particular customer, thereby calculate a total printing plate price which will be part of the overall price. In order to maintain the confidentiallity of these 20 individual variables, the workbook gives only the final price per printed output - ie the overall price. Also in order to maintain confidentiallity, I have written the estimating workbook separate from the variables worksheet - the estimating workbook uses links to the variables worksheet to calculate the final price. We send the customer just the estimating workbook, and not the variables worksheet (as we obviously dont want them to see the individual variables). Yet the estimating workbook still works for them, even though they cannot open the link to the variables worksheet - which is what I dont understand. Are the variables in fact somehow encoded intot the estimating workbook, and therefore not as hidden as we first thought? When I have tried sending just the estimating workbook to another PC that does not have access to the variables worksheet, the estimating workbook works fine, and I cannot "find" the data from the variables worksheet (other than that I know it is part of the calculation within the estimating workbook), which makes me think it is still kept hidden. Does this make sense?! Will |
#5
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Hi Will - just checked and no email received. Did you take out the NOSPAM
but from my email address? Should be ken dot wright at ntlworld dot com Regards Ken...................... "will" wrote in message ... Thanks for the replies. Ken - yes, more succinctly put than me, but yes! I have emailed you the spreadsheets so you can see what I mean. Regards, Will "Ken Wright" wrote: By all means send me a copy and I'll take a look at what you have in there vs what you don't. If I read you correctly you have two workbooks, one with calcs and one with variables, with the calcs one referencing the variables one. You then send out just the one with calcs but it still appears to be able to reference the variables one? Is that correct? -- Regards Ken....................... Microsoft MVP - Excel Sys Spec - Win XP Pro / XL 97/00/02/03 ------------------------------*------------------------------*---------------- It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission :-) ------------------------------*------------------------------*---------------- "will" wrote in message ... Can someone explain this to me, so that I can better understand what is happening:- We are a print company and we want to give our customer an estimating workbook, that is made up of lots of different calculations, based on about 20 different types of variable. The value of these 20 variables change from customer to customer, and they will be for things like price of a printing plate, or price to run the printing press etc etc. The estimating workbook would therefore, for example, be able to specify how many printing plates are needed, and given the price for the printing plates for that particular customer, thereby calculate a total printing plate price which will be part of the overall price. In order to maintain the confidentiallity of these 20 individual variables, the workbook gives only the final price per printed output - ie the overall price. Also in order to maintain confidentiallity, I have written the estimating workbook separate from the variables worksheet - the estimating workbook uses links to the variables worksheet to calculate the final price. We send the customer just the estimating workbook, and not the variables worksheet (as we obviously dont want them to see the individual variables). Yet the estimating workbook still works for them, even though they cannot open the link to the variables worksheet - which is what I dont understand. Are the variables in fact somehow encoded intot the estimating workbook, and therefore not as hidden as we first thought? When I have tried sending just the estimating workbook to another PC that does not have access to the variables worksheet, the estimating workbook works fine, and I cannot "find" the data from the variables worksheet (other than that I know it is part of the calculation within the estimating workbook), which makes me think it is still kept hidden. Does this make sense?! Will |
#6
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To maintain confidentiality of the parameters you would need to use
Edit / Links / Break Link (or Edit / Copy; Edit / Paste Special / Values) before sending the workbook. If the formulas are present then the user will be able to see the value of the parameter which came across the link. Bill Manville MVP - Microsoft Excel, Oxford, England No email replies please - respond to newsgroup |
#7
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Bill,
I take your point, but presumably this would then mean that the estimating workbook would not work as it would only contain those parameters which were selected when it was initially sent? Will "Bill Manville" wrote: To maintain confidentiality of the parameters you would need to use Edit / Links / Break Link (or Edit / Copy; Edit / Paste Special / Values) before sending the workbook. If the formulas are present then the user will be able to see the value of the parameter which came across the link. Bill Manville MVP - Microsoft Excel, Oxford, England No email replies please - respond to newsgroup |
#8
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Ken,
Doh - thanks! I'll try again. Will "Ken Wright" wrote: Hi Will - just checked and no email received. Did you take out the NOSPAM but from my email address? Should be ken dot wright at ntlworld dot com Regards Ken...................... "will" wrote in message ... Thanks for the replies. Ken - yes, more succinctly put than me, but yes! I have emailed you the spreadsheets so you can see what I mean. Regards, Will "Ken Wright" wrote: By all means send me a copy and I'll take a look at what you have in there vs what you don't. If I read you correctly you have two workbooks, one with calcs and one with variables, with the calcs one referencing the variables one. You then send out just the one with calcs but it still appears to be able to reference the variables one? Is that correct? -- Regards Ken....................... Microsoft MVP - Excel Sys Spec - Win XP Pro / XL 97/00/02/03 ------------------------------Â*------------------------------Â*---------------- It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission :-) ------------------------------Â*------------------------------Â*---------------- "will" wrote in message ... Can someone explain this to me, so that I can better understand what is happening:- We are a print company and we want to give our customer an estimating workbook, that is made up of lots of different calculations, based on about 20 different types of variable. The value of these 20 variables change from customer to customer, and they will be for things like price of a printing plate, or price to run the printing press etc etc. The estimating workbook would therefore, for example, be able to specify how many printing plates are needed, and given the price for the printing plates for that particular customer, thereby calculate a total printing plate price which will be part of the overall price. In order to maintain the confidentiallity of these 20 individual variables, the workbook gives only the final price per printed output - ie the overall price. Also in order to maintain confidentiallity, I have written the estimating workbook separate from the variables worksheet - the estimating workbook uses links to the variables worksheet to calculate the final price. We send the customer just the estimating workbook, and not the variables worksheet (as we obviously dont want them to see the individual variables). Yet the estimating workbook still works for them, even though they cannot open the link to the variables worksheet - which is what I dont understand. Are the variables in fact somehow encoded intot the estimating workbook, and therefore not as hidden as we first thought? When I have tried sending just the estimating workbook to another PC that does not have access to the variables worksheet, the estimating workbook works fine, and I cannot "find" the data from the variables worksheet (other than that I know it is part of the calculation within the estimating workbook), which makes me think it is still kept hidden. Does this make sense?! Will |
#9
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Will wrote:
I take your point, but presumably this would then mean that the estimating workbook would not work as it would only contain those parameters which were selected when it was initially sent? It depends on how you have written your formulas. If you have just brought individual parameters into cells in the estimating workbook by links (e.g. =[clientparams.xls]Sheet1!CostPerPage ) then breaking the link will put the relevant value into the cell. If you have included references to the source workbook in a more complicated formula (e.g. =NumberOfPages*[clientparams.xls]Sheet1!CostPerPage ) then you are correct, that formula will not continue to work when you change NumberOfPages since the entire formula will be replaced by its current value. You might therefore choose to have a MyCostPerPage cell in the estimating workbook, containing =[clientparams.xls]Sheet1!CostPerPage and change your formula to =NumberOfPages*MyCostPerPage . As I said, the user will easily be able to determine what his parameters are, given that the formulas can be seen, but at least he won't be plagued by "update links?" questions when opening the workbook. Bill Manville MVP - Microsoft Excel, Oxford, England No email replies please - respond to newsgroup |
#10
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Bill,
Thanks for that, and I understand what you are saying. The estimating workbook contains the more complicated formulas, as per your description, so if one broke the links then the workbook would not work. It does not answer the original point, though, which is that the linked estimating workbook must somehow contain all variables within the variables workbook for it to function. And if this is the case, then where are those variables stored, and how would the customer view them if he had a mind to do so? Will "Bill Manville" wrote: Will wrote: I take your point, but presumably this would then mean that the estimating workbook would not work as it would only contain those parameters which were selected when it was initially sent? It depends on how you have written your formulas. If you have just brought individual parameters into cells in the estimating workbook by links (e.g. =[clientparams.xls]Sheet1!CostPerPage ) then breaking the link will put the relevant value into the cell. If you have included references to the source workbook in a more complicated formula (e.g. =NumberOfPages*[clientparams.xls]Sheet1!CostPerPage ) then you are correct, that formula will not continue to work when you change NumberOfPages since the entire formula will be replaced by its current value. You might therefore choose to have a MyCostPerPage cell in the estimating workbook, containing =[clientparams.xls]Sheet1!CostPerPage and change your formula to =NumberOfPages*MyCostPerPage . As I said, the user will easily be able to determine what his parameters are, given that the formulas can be seen, but at least he won't be plagued by "update links?" questions when opening the workbook. Bill Manville MVP - Microsoft Excel, Oxford, England No email replies please - respond to newsgroup |
#11
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Hi Will
If the user can see the formulas then the user can see the value of the parameters, wherever they come from, by highlighting the relevant part of the formula in the formula bar and pressing F9. To prevent that you need to hide the formulas and protect the worksheet: Format / Cells / Protection / Hidden Tools / Protection / Protect Sheet (with a password) If the user is to be allowed to change some cells then they first need to be unlocked on Format / Cells / Protection before the sheet is protected. If you had a worksheet containing the values of the variables you don't want the user to see (which could be the result of simple linking formulas) you could then hide that worksheet from the user. Format / Sheet / Hide and protect the workbook structure Tools / Protection / Protect Workbook (with a password) The formulas in the user-visible worksheet would reference the copies of the variables in the hidden sheet (I would name the cells concerned for clarity in the formulas). You can break the link before sending the workbook out and the values in the hidden sheet will be preserved. Hope this helps Bill Manville MVP - Microsoft Excel, Oxford, England No email replies please - respond to newsgroup |
#12
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I think Bill's given you the answer in that Excel remembers the value of all
the parameters. It's not remembering all the variables in the variables workbook, it's just remembering the results of the parameters in all the If statements and direct links you have in your estimating workbook, eg:- In your estimating workbook, in Finishing!T12 (Charge per 1000) you have the following formula =IF(Results!C12=TRUE,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D54,0) (The path will be different on your machine.) This has two possible values in it, ie the value that was in [X variables.xls]Variables'!D54 and the value 0. Excel remembers this first value from when it was linked to the variables workbook, and so despite the variables file no longer being there, you are still at liberty to use the checkbox on your input sheet to include or exclude embossing as an option. This means you can still use the input sheet to generate different scenarios, even without the linked file being available. If you try to update the cell however, it all dies on you and you get a #REF error. Your estimating workbook doesn't require that the variables workbook do any calculations once it has been seeded with the appropriate values, with the exception of a LOOKUP formula that you have, and i must admit that that kind of threw me as I didn't realise it would retain all the results of the LOOKUP, but it seems that it does. In case it helps Bill to see what kind of fomulas you have in your links at all, ( He is the Links guru :- ) the links you have in the workbook are as follows Value ='F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!$D$5:$D$11 ='F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!$D$45:$D$50 ='F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!$C$19:$C$29 ='F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!$D$19:$D$29 ='F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!$E$19:$E$29 ='F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!$F$19:$F$29 ='F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!$D$34:$D$39 =LOOKUP(Results!C6,Board_1,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!$D$5:$D$11) =IF(Results!C7=1,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D17,0) ='F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D18 ='F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D15 =IF(Results!C12=TRUE,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D53,0) =IF(Results!C12=TRUE,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D54,0) =IF(Results!C13=TRUE,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D58,0) =IF(Results!C14=TRUE,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D61,0) =IF(Results!C11=1,0,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D43) =IF(Results!C11=1,0,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D44) ='F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!$D$64 =IF(Results!C16=TRUE,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D69,0) =IF(Results!C16=TRUE,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D70,0) ='F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!$E$71 Excel will remember all these variables, though as i say, I was surpised that =LOOKUP(Results!C6,Board_1,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!$D$5:$D$11) was able to recall all the possible answers depending on the choice of board. I even added a bunch more results to the table, saved both workbooks, and then got rid of the variables one by renaming it, yet the estimating sheet was still correctly able to recall all the values within the lookup range, and use them to return the appropriate value depending on what Board had been chosen. With that exception (a big one for me i must admit), it's doing what i would have expected it to. Regards Ken..................... "will" wrote in message ... Bill, Thanks for that, and I understand what you are saying. The estimating workbook contains the more complicated formulas, as per your description, so if one broke the links then the workbook would not work. It does not answer the original point, though, which is that the linked estimating workbook must somehow contain all variables within the variables workbook for it to function. And if this is the case, then where are those variables stored, and how would the customer view them if he had a mind to do so? Will "Bill Manville" wrote: Will wrote: I take your point, but presumably this would then mean that the estimating workbook would not work as it would only contain those parameters which were selected when it was initially sent? It depends on how you have written your formulas. If you have just brought individual parameters into cells in the estimating workbook by links (e.g. =[clientparams.xls]Sheet1!CostPerPage ) then breaking the link will put the relevant value into the cell. If you have included references to the source workbook in a more complicated formula (e.g. =NumberOfPages*[clientparams.xls]Sheet1!CostPerPage ) then you are correct, that formula will not continue to work when you change NumberOfPages since the entire formula will be replaced by its current value. You might therefore choose to have a MyCostPerPage cell in the estimating workbook, containing =[clientparams.xls]Sheet1!CostPerPage and change your formula to =NumberOfPages*MyCostPerPage . As I said, the user will easily be able to determine what his parameters are, given that the formulas can be seen, but at least he won't be plagued by "update links?" questions when opening the workbook. Bill Manville MVP - Microsoft Excel, Oxford, England No email replies please - respond to newsgroup |
#13
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Bill,
Many thanks for your help. I have the calculating worksheets on the estimating workbook hidden and protected, so hopefully OK. In fact the reason why I structured it this way (ie with a separate variables workbook) was to try and make it more secure - given the lack of security that Excel passwords seem to offer. Now it seems as if it probably doesn't help on that count much anyway, but I suppose it is another complication that might just put the customer off from nosing out my variables! Regards, Will "Bill Manville" wrote: Hi Will If the user can see the formulas then the user can see the value of the parameters, wherever they come from, by highlighting the relevant part of the formula in the formula bar and pressing F9. To prevent that you need to hide the formulas and protect the worksheet: Format / Cells / Protection / Hidden Tools / Protection / Protect Sheet (with a password) If the user is to be allowed to change some cells then they first need to be unlocked on Format / Cells / Protection before the sheet is protected. If you had a worksheet containing the values of the variables you don't want the user to see (which could be the result of simple linking formulas) you could then hide that worksheet from the user. Format / Sheet / Hide and protect the workbook structure Tools / Protection / Protect Workbook (with a password) The formulas in the user-visible worksheet would reference the copies of the variables in the hidden sheet (I would name the cells concerned for clarity in the formulas). You can break the link before sending the workbook out and the values in the hidden sheet will be preserved. Hope this helps Bill Manville MVP - Microsoft Excel, Oxford, England No email replies please - respond to newsgroup |
#14
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Ken,
Many thanks for all your help on this. I'm glad that I at least managed to suprise with you with one small part of this! Personally I was suprised that all the results were remembered. Please also see reply to Bill above. Regards, Will "Ken Wright" wrote: I think Bill's given you the answer in that Excel remembers the value of all the parameters. It's not remembering all the variables in the variables workbook, it's just remembering the results of the parameters in all the If statements and direct links you have in your estimating workbook, eg:- In your estimating workbook, in Finishing!T12 (Charge per 1000) you have the following formula =IF(Results!C12=TRUE,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D54,0) (The path will be different on your machine.) This has two possible values in it, ie the value that was in [X variables.xls]Variables'!D54 and the value 0. Excel remembers this first value from when it was linked to the variables workbook, and so despite the variables file no longer being there, you are still at liberty to use the checkbox on your input sheet to include or exclude embossing as an option. This means you can still use the input sheet to generate different scenarios, even without the linked file being available. If you try to update the cell however, it all dies on you and you get a #REF error. Your estimating workbook doesn't require that the variables workbook do any calculations once it has been seeded with the appropriate values, with the exception of a LOOKUP formula that you have, and i must admit that that kind of threw me as I didn't realise it would retain all the results of the LOOKUP, but it seems that it does. In case it helps Bill to see what kind of fomulas you have in your links at all, ( He is the Links guru :- ) the links you have in the workbook are as follows Value ='F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!$D$5:$D$11 ='F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!$D$45:$D$50 ='F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!$C$19:$C$29 ='F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!$D$19:$D$29 ='F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!$E$19:$E$29 ='F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!$F$19:$F$29 ='F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!$D$34:$D$39 =LOOKUP(Results!C6,Board_1,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!$D$5:$D$11) =IF(Results!C7=1,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D17,0) ='F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D18 ='F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D15 =IF(Results!C12=TRUE,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D53,0) =IF(Results!C12=TRUE,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D54,0) =IF(Results!C13=TRUE,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D58,0) =IF(Results!C14=TRUE,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D61,0) =IF(Results!C11=1,0,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D43) =IF(Results!C11=1,0,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D44) ='F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!$D$64 =IF(Results!C16=TRUE,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D69,0) =IF(Results!C16=TRUE,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!D70,0) ='F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!$E$71 Excel will remember all these variables, though as i say, I was surpised that =LOOKUP(Results!C6,Board_1,'F:\4test\[X variables.xls]Variables'!$D$5:$D$11) was able to recall all the possible answers depending on the choice of board. I even added a bunch more results to the table, saved both workbooks, and then got rid of the variables one by renaming it, yet the estimating sheet was still correctly able to recall all the values within the lookup range, and use them to return the appropriate value depending on what Board had been chosen. With that exception (a big one for me i must admit), it's doing what i would have expected it to. Regards Ken..................... "will" wrote in message ... Bill, Thanks for that, and I understand what you are saying. The estimating workbook contains the more complicated formulas, as per your description, so if one broke the links then the workbook would not work. It does not answer the original point, though, which is that the linked estimating workbook must somehow contain all variables within the variables workbook for it to function. And if this is the case, then where are those variables stored, and how would the customer view them if he had a mind to do so? Will "Bill Manville" wrote: Will wrote: I take your point, but presumably this would then mean that the estimating workbook would not work as it would only contain those parameters which were selected when it was initially sent? It depends on how you have written your formulas. If you have just brought individual parameters into cells in the estimating workbook by links (e.g. =[clientparams.xls]Sheet1!CostPerPage ) then breaking the link will put the relevant value into the cell. If you have included references to the source workbook in a more complicated formula (e.g. =NumberOfPages*[clientparams.xls]Sheet1!CostPerPage ) then you are correct, that formula will not continue to work when you change NumberOfPages since the entire formula will be replaced by its current value. You might therefore choose to have a MyCostPerPage cell in the estimating workbook, containing =[clientparams.xls]Sheet1!CostPerPage and change your formula to =NumberOfPages*MyCostPerPage . As I said, the user will easily be able to determine what his parameters are, given that the formulas can be seen, but at least he won't be plagued by "update links?" questions when opening the workbook. Bill Manville MVP - Microsoft Excel, Oxford, England No email replies please - respond to newsgroup |
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