Data Connection to Workbook on a secure LAN folder

**pbirkland** · 10-21-2009, 09:26 PM

So I am creating a "form" with excel that gets passed around to various project managers throughout my organization. One of the fields called "costs" I would like pre-filled for the project managers. I have this "costs" data in another workbook that is on a secure LAN folder, that gets updated throughout the month, and I would like the excel form to be able to pull this data in.

So I just linked to that excel workbook, and it appears as though users who do not have access to my LAN are able to see the data get pulled in.

But I think I am deceived, because I believe the link to be broken, since they dont have access, it appears as though the data is cached in the workbook some how, but I am not possible.

Is my goal of having this sensitive "costs" data stored in a secure location possible, without my consumers of this excel workbook having priveldge to this LAN location?

**teylyn** · 10-21-2009, 10:10 PM

Hi,

if you reference external data in your workbook, Excel will store the last value referenced. When the link is updated, the value will change if the source has changed. When the workbook is opened and the link can not be updated, due to access restrictions, the last value stored will be displayed.

If you do not want this behaviour, you'll have to make other arrangements for your data, for example using hidden or very hidden sheets. These are not Fort Knox security, though, and can be bypassed.

hth

**pbirkland** · 10-21-2009, 10:22 PM

Are you suggesting that aside from creating a link to the data, that I should use vba to copy the data into a very hidden worksheet? Will the VBA code be able to execute and perform the copy n paste?