Update Links updating without being told

**ge0rge** · 02-23-2009, 07:24 AM

I have a workbook that links to cells in a closed workbook. I made a command button that will update the cells when I click it. I did this because I don't always want the cells to update.
I also set the "Edit Links" option to "Don't display the alert and don't update the links automatically". I didn't want the update, don't update window to popup upon opening the workbook. If they clicked update on that it would have updated all the sheets in that workbook which would have been bad.
The thing I cannot figure out is that the links update in real time, without using my command button. If I open the linked sheet and change info, then my original sheet changes its data as well. How can I kabosh this from happening? The problem is that it updates any sheet in the workbook they have open which should not happen. Sorry for the long post, Thanks for looking!!

**Leith Ross** · 02-23-2009, 03:10 PM

Hello ge0rge,

The closed workbook is updated in real time by the system using DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange). Windows initiates the DDE conversion between the server and the client and operates independently from Excel and VBA. I am not sure you can stop the links from updating in real time because of this.

**ge0rge** · 02-23-2009, 09:38 PM

Well then, it appears I need to take a different approach to this. Thanks for the words of wisdom!!

**JBeaucaire** · 02-24-2009, 12:49 AM

One way that comes to mind for me is to possibly create an intermediary sheet ([book2.xls]). If it's sole responsibility was to have the data for the final sheet ([book3.xls]), but all of its cells were simply =[book1.xls]Sheet1!A1, =[book1.xls]Sheet1!A2, etc... and the book2 is closed, perhaps it's cells will not be updated so Book3 keeps getting the data from Book2 even though you've updated the data in Book1.

Would this work? Anyone know?

**ge0rge** · 02-24-2009, 06:28 AM

I recently setup such a scenario with help from others on this forum. I linked a second worksheet to a closed workbook and then pulled all pertinent info from my second worksheet to the main one. Feel free to have a look.
http://www.excelforum.com/excel-prog...-workbook.html

**ge0rge** · 02-24-2009, 12:28 PM

Well I tried that and it also updates all the worksheets in the workbook instead of just the active one. I think I am going to have to take the loss to excel on this one.