INDIRECT reference to named cell in closed workbook

Paulfakins

New Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2003
Messages
29
I have the following as the source for a data validation list:

=INDIRECT(CONCATENATE("[Workbook1.xls]Sheet1!",A1))

where A1 will contain the name of the range I want to use as the list. This works fine as long as Workbook1 is open.

Is there a way to do this if Workbook1 is closed? I can't seem to get it to work even if I use the full path for the workbook.

e.g. =INDIRECT(CONCATENATE("c:Documents\data\[PipePrice.xls]Pipe!",C12))

Any advice would be appreciated

Paul :rolleyes:
 

Excel Facts

What do {} around a formula in the formula bar mean?
{Formula} means the formula was entered using Ctrl+Shift+Enter signifying an old-style array formula.
the search feature of the board is remarkably effective :)

I'd suggest searching for something like "indirect closed".

(& while I'm here, the morefunc addin has an indirect.ext() function that works for closed workbooks).
 
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Looks like the morefunc add-in is probably the way to go.

Thanks to both of you. In the future I guess I should spend a little time looking for similiar posts before starting a new thread.

Paul
 
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Not always... it's amazing how some people can discover some new element that no-one else saw.

But, sometimes people love re-inventing the wheel :p

I guess thats what Undergrads are there for :eek:


(y)
 
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Paulfakins said:
I have the following as the source for a data validation list:

=INDIRECT(CONCATENATE("[Workbook1.xls]Sheet1!",A1))

where A1 will contain the name of the range I want to use as the list. This works fine as long as Workbook1 is open.

O.K. Here we go:

I followed the advice I was given and loaded the Morefunc Add-In. I have used the INDIRECT command successfully to access information in a closed workbook, However;

When I try to use it in Data Validation, I cannot get it to work.

Here is the syntax I am using in the data Validation Source:

=INDIRECT(CONCATENATE("'C:\temp\[book1.xls]Sheet1'!",,A1))

When I enter this information I get a message box that reads:

The Source currently evaluates to an error. Do you wish to proceed?

Am I entering the formula incorrectly?



Background:

Book1 is a Price Book. It contains about 50 named ranges which consist of various categories of parts. Through a series of Data Validation Lists, the user steps through category selections and the final list (the one that uses the range from Book1) shows only the parts in the sub-category they have selected.

I have had all of this working quite well as long as the Price Book(Book1) is open. I only hit this snag when I tried making this work with the workbook closed.


Any advice would be appreciated. I would even be willing to consider moving the price data to Access, but I am not familiar with how to retrieve data from Access with XL.

Thank you,

Paul
 
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