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Host Excel formulas in external file?

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    Host Excel formulas in external file?

    I am trying to maintain a complicated workbook for a group of people that will need many future updates and tweaks. I was wondering if I could provide them with a front-end that would be able to populate the formulas used to do their calculations from an external file so that I can revision the formulas as needed without versioning an updated file and pushing it down to them.

    If there is an alternative method of obtaining the same results, I would welcome that as well. If Excel is not capable of performing this specific function, then it may be time for me to learn how to code this into a website.

    Thank you for your help in this matter.

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    Re: Host Excel formulas in external file?

    bump to try and find a solution

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    Re: Host Excel formulas in external file?

    Hi inetspelr, from what I've seen about what you are trying to do, both the front end and back end workbooks would need to be open in order for one to pull anything from the other. If I'm wrong on this assumption, maybe someone on here can confirm otherwise.
    -------------
    Tony

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    Re: Host Excel formulas in external file?

    I have figured out how to do this IF I can convert a cell that contains a formula as text into an equation.

    This is also something that I can not find documentation on. All I can find are references to what seem to be unsupported feature named EVAL. My problem can be solved if I can evaluate a formula saved as text in another cell. Let me try and google-fu this instead.

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    Re: Host Excel formulas in external file?

    Is there a reason why you are not creating the Base workbook as a read only template?
    Ben Van Johnson

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    Re: Host Excel formulas in external file?

    If I understand you correctly, you are suggesting that each person open the file as read-only to eliminate then need to distribute a front-end to them. The reason this is not feasible is because each person needs to be able to customize and save portions of the file unique to their needs as individuals and as those needs change over time. I was hoping that I would be able to retain their ability to do this without loosing my ability to change the underlying calculations done to their entries. Excel may not be built to handle these specific needs however.

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    Re: Host Excel formulas in external file?

    I still don't understand. If the workbook is that complicated and changeable, it probably needs to be split into several "simple" workbooks, each focused on one area where the routine is constant. If you are constantly making changes, then what happens to the previous data & layout?
    Last edited by protonLeah; 03-25-2012 at 04:38 PM.

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