linking to another workbook

[Guest]

When I link to an external file, the reference is abosolute instead of relative. Is there a way to default to relative, or do I just need to get used to deleting the $ or using the F4 function

Also, it seems Excel has a limit on the # of links to a specific workbook? After awhile I am unable to link and have to manually type in the path
Thanks

 

[Harlan Grove]

When I link to an external file, the reference is abosolute instead of
relative. Is there a way to default to relative, or do I just need to get
used to deleting the $ or using the F4 function?

The latter. There's no option setting for this (unless it's buried in the
Registry - not a good idea to tinker with undocumented Registry values).

Also, it seems Excel has a limit on the # of links to a specific workbook?
After awhile I am unable to link and have to manually type in the path.

Meaning something like you have workbooks A.xls and B.xls open, and you're
creating links in A.xls to cells in B.xls, you've been entering links like

=[B.xls]SheetX!Z987

and at some point you need to enter links like

='C:\foo\bar\[B.xls]SheetX'!Z666

instead?

 

[Dave Peterson]

You may be able to cheat a little (but it may not be worth the effort):

Move that worksheet you're linking to into the same workbook that contains the
formulas.

Do all your formula work.

Move the sheet back to the original workbook.

This could cause trouble if you have range names on that worksheet, though.