Detect if Reference Workbook is Open

Roderick_E

Well-known Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2007
Messages
2,051
I've seen VBA solutions to detect if a reference workbook is open, but is there a formulaic solution without using a UDF?
Thanks
 

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You might be able to use something like this:

If a workbook is linked...AND...is currently open
the linking formula has this structure:
Code:
D2: ='[FileName.xlsx]Sheet1'!A1

BUT...if the file is NOT open
the linking formula has this structure:
Code:
D2: ='C:\FolderName\[FileName.xlsx]Sheet1'!A1

So, you might be able to use the FORMULATEXT function to return the formula in the cell and maybe search for a specific pattern:

Code:
E2: =IF(ISERR(SEARCH(":\",FORMULATEXT(D2))),"Open","Closed")
Note: The search term is COLON BACKSLASH....The website may corrupt that.

Is that something you can work with?
 
Upvote 0
You might be able to use something like this:

If a workbook is linked...AND...is currently open
the linking formula has this structure:
Code:
D2: ='[FileName.xlsx]Sheet1'!A1

BUT...if the file is NOT open
the linking formula has this structure:
Code:
D2: ='C:\FolderName\[FileName.xlsx]Sheet1'!A1

So, you might be able to use the FORMULATEXT function to return the formula in the cell and maybe search for a specific pattern:

Code:
E2: =IF(ISERR(SEARCH(":\",FORMULATEXT(D2))),"Open","Closed")
Note: The search term is COLON BACKSLASH....The website may corrupt that.

Is that something you can work with?

Going to test this and will report back thanks
 
Upvote 0
You might be able to use something like this:

If a workbook is linked...AND...is currently open
the linking formula has this structure:
Code:
D2: ='[FileName.xlsx]Sheet1'!A1

BUT...if the file is NOT open
the linking formula has this structure:
Code:
D2: ='C:\FolderName\[FileName.xlsx]Sheet1'!A1

So, you might be able to use the FORMULATEXT function to return the formula in the cell and maybe search for a specific pattern:

Code:
E2: =IF(ISERR(SEARCH(":\",FORMULATEXT(D2))),"Open","Closed")
Note: The search term is COLON BACKSLASH....The website may corrupt that.

Is that something you can work with?

Ok I can work with this thanks. Testing shows that I can't simply put the link into the Formulatext part, I have to reference another cell, but it will still work.
 
Upvote 0

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