link from other source file is not working

[karen-acctg]

File 1 has a trial balance on it for May08
File 2 has a trial balance on it for June08
File 3 has a trial balance on it for July08

Separate File 4 has 3 columns representing the 3 months of trial balance
numbers.
using SUMIF formula -

If the first 3 files are not open first, then when i open the File 4 it has
#VALUE! - everywhere ?

If I open the first 3 files, everything links up properly.

Question: Does the source file alsways have to be OPEN for the linked sheet
to work ?

 

[Duke Carey]

For most, if not all, functions to work on ranges in other files, the other
files have to be open. You can LINK to a cell or range of cells and Excel
will pull the value in even if the other file is closed

 

[karen-acctg]

Thank you so much for your reply. I have been batting my head against the
wall with this thing. Many thanks, Karen