Updating Linked Files

[jkiser]

I have 4 Excel files that are all linked (files A,B,C &
D).

File D pulls data from C
File C pulls from B
File B pulls from A

Any change to the data in file A will make changes in
files B, C and D....as long as they're all open.

Problem....If I make a change to A, it won't be reflected
when I open D unless I also open and update files B and C.

Question. When I open file D, how can I get the changes
reflected in all of the sub-files automatically.

Another Question...Can I set up file D so that when
opened, it will trigger the opening of all the others?
Can I trigger it to open them in a "hidden" mode?

Thanks

 

[Dave Peterson]

I think you'll have to keep them open for the updates to be automatic.

Open all 4 workbooks and do File|Save Workspace. Then you can just open that
workspace--it really doesn't have the data--just pointers to the files.

Or you could use a macro in D that opens all the others:

sub auto_open()
Workbooks.Open Filename:="C:\My Documents\excel\a.xls"
Workbooks.Open Filename:="C:\My Documents\excel\b.xls"
Workbooks.Open Filename:="C:\My Documents\excel\c.xls"
end sub

in a general module.

But I think it would be better in A. Open B, then C, then D.

Then when excel opens one, it can use the open workbooks to recalculate the
links. So it should be a little quicker.


If you're new to macros, you may want to read David McRitchie's intro at:
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/getstarted.htm