link to not-yet-created workbook

[Guest]

I am trying to create a worksheet that will allow users to weekly update a
properly named (standard naming convention) worksheet, drop it into the
appropriate network directory, and then sum up all of the users information
in a master spreadsheet.
The difficulty I am having is that the FUTURE workbooks are not yet created.
Is there a way I can do a check to see if the desired workbook is in the
folder and return a value if so, if not, just return a zero? I can't figure
it out with an IF(.. statement. Is there an if(.. exists...) type statement?
I am kinda new to this, and have found some very useful information from all
of you on here.
Thanks in advance.
If my question is confusing, I will try to elaborate as best as I can if
needed.

 

[Dave Peterson]

I'd either build a bunch of dummy files so that the formulas retrieve a value.

Or I'd change the formulas to text--just change the leading equal sign to $$$$=.

When I created the file, I'd change the strings back to formulas.

 

[Guest]

Well, that's easier than what I was going to do hopefully. Problem is, I have
about 45000 cells to populate like this. Each cell is trying to add data from
up to 5 other workbooks that may or may not all be in the directory yet.
(It's tough to get everyone to do their job every week)
I was trying to use the
=IF(ISERROR(workbook.worksheet.cellvalue, 0, workbook.worksheet.cellvalue)+...
for each worksheet, which does what I want, but still requires me changing
the values of the workbook name multiple times in about 1500 cells.
Oh well, I guess that's why they call it work.
Thanks!