Hi,

Say I have Source Workbook X 1, and Destination Workbooks X 4. The Source workbook contains a number of lookup values. I want the lookup values to be maintained in the single Source workbook, and I want this workbook to remain closed when the end users are using their Destination workbooks. It is critical that certain cells in the Destination workbooks have validated data in order for formulas and summarizations to be correct.

I'm happy if the Destination workbooks contain a lookup worksheet (perhaps hidden). In short, I'd like the contents from the Source workbook, Lookups worksheet, to just be replicated "as is" into the Destination workbooks, Lookups worksheet. I then want to do my data validation from that worksheet, which of course is open (data validation appears to only work with open workbooks).

I've investigated the techniques in this link: http://office.microsoft.com/en-au/ex...010102338.aspx.

Questions:

1) Are the techniques in that link about the best approach? i.e. an external link plus array formulas?
2) A blank cell in the source workbook (text column but formatted as General) is resulting in a zero in the external link. How can I make the external link exactly match the text as entered in the source workbook?

Regards,
Scott