External References (link) and using Dual Monitors (Excel 2010)

I'm attempting to find a resolution for my trainer so she can answer our CFOs question. I am a novice Excel user. We are using Excel 2010.

CFO uses dual monitors and wants to have two different workbooks (Files) open. She then wants to create an external reference to a cell from File B to File A. I have vague information from trainer - she states that she can link if the doc windows are on the same screen but when on different screens, it doesn't work. Trainer made no mention nor remember if she had the two instances of Excel running. In my testing, I can't to an external reference (using the = and then pointing to the cell in File B that I am referencing) if two instances are running.

Question 1 - can you do an external reference when you are running two instances of Excel? (Hope that makes sense). If you can do that, would you please let me know how to do it.

If the user is just wanting to see one file on one screen and the other on the second screen, the only way I have found to do this is open Excel, spread it across both monitors and then open File A and then open File B and then arrange the files so they go side-by-side. Then I create the external reference and it works.

Thank you in advance for any information you can share. If you need additional information, please let me know.

Vivian

Ron,

Thank you. I will show this to our trainer and CFO. What would you recommend instead of linked formulas? If they want to reference a cell from a different file (and make sure it is updated, if necessary) what should they do?

Regards,