We can build a dynamic workbook reference by using the INDIRECT FUNCTION. This will enable us to easily work on different workbooks, allowing us to switch between them frequently to check and retrieve values from several worksheets.
Figure 1: Created Dynamic Workbook Reference
General Formula
=INDIRECT ("'["&workbook name&"]"&sheet name&"'!"&reference cell)
Formula
=INDIRECT("'["&A2&"]"&B2&"'!"&C2)
Setting up the Data
- We will have two workbooks. The first is the reference workbook where we intend to create the dynamic reference in
Figure 2: Reference workbook
- We will name the second workbook as SAVINGS
- We will input the values into Cell A1 to Cell A4 as shown in figure 3
Figure 3: Data contained in the second workbook titled SAVINGS
You will notice in figure 2 that the WORKBOOK has .xlsx attached to the name of the second workbook. Always add .xlsx to the name to ensure that it is a valid reference. Also, you will notice that Sheet1 in figure 3 has no space. That is why we mustn’t leave a space when inserting the data in the reference workbook in figure 2.
Creating the Dynamic Workbook Reference
- We will click on Cell D4 of the reference workbook and insert the formula below
=INDIRECT("'["&A4&"]"&B4&"'!"&C4)
Figure 4: Creating the Dynamic Workbook Reference
- We will press the enter key
Figure 5: Creating the Dynamic Workbook Reference
- We will use the drop-down feature to get the reference values for the other cells
Figure 6: Created Dynamic Workbook Reference
Explanation
=INDIRECT ("'["&workbook name&"]"&sheet name&"'!"&reference cell)
In this formula, we want to use the INDIRECT function to create a complete reference to a specified range in the second workbook. The INDIRECT function converts text to an actual reference and returns the value in the specified cells and worksheets.
A reference to the second worksheet will look like this:
'[SAVINGS.xlsx]Sheet1'!A4
Note
The workbook (SAVINGS workbook) that we intend to reference must be open, else, INDIRECT will display a #REF error.
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