Read a range from a closed workbook

I want to read or even copy a range in a closed excel workbook and I believe there are a number of ways of doing this. I'm told that it's quiet slow and I'm better off opening the workbook first. Is there a fast method of copying a range or all the cells from a closed workbook? I would use the ExcelMacro4 but it only copies one value at a time though it is fast.

Is there an inbuilt excel function or a method of drawing data quicky.

Thanks very much.
Danny2000