I am very frustrated by Excel (2003) at the moment. I'm relatively new to using Excel in depth. I have always been able to work my way through most intricacies and pitfalls. But now I have been working in a workbook with linked sheets (and with linked workbooks too) and have two problems that I cannot solve.

Right now, I have about 47 sheets that are set up as follows:

detail data: this is the raw data the the user enters
daily totals: this is calculated data from the detail sheets
summary sheets: further sums from the daily totals and a chart object that charts these sums (a line or scatter chart)
(that accounts for 45 of the sheets)
a combined-summary sheet: this includes the data from all summary sheets
an overall summary sheet: is the same as the summary sheets, but takes totals from the combined-summary sheet

So, first problem: The workbook functions exactly as I want it to...ONCE. Then, if any data is changed in the detail sheets all the other data updates, but the charts fail to show any of the source data. They are completely blank. I have calculations set to automatic. I have all protections off (though I originally thought this was my problem because I protected everything but the cells where I want users to input raw data). I have Update Remote References on, but that shouldn't matter since it's all one workbook. I even saved the file as a template, which was always my intention, but when one user tried to plug in his data, the charts didn't recognize the data. I've tried different chart types. I've tried re-highlighting the source data. I've tried having the charts on separate worksheets instead of as objects. Nothing I've tried has worked. I looked in online Excel help to no avail. I have an Office 2003 Bible, but can't find any section that discusses this.

Please help. This is so frustrating! This is my last resort before reporting a bug to Microsoft and waiting for the update...

Second problem: In the same workbook, each chart's source data is units that have an associated cost. My boss wants me to have the associated display on the chart when you mouseover each data point. I'm sure I could figure this out eventually, but don't have time after spending days on my first problem.

I really appreciate any and all responses. Please show me what I'm overlooking, so I can feel like a dolt, but a dolt with a functioning workbook!

Thanks so much,
jlc