Can named ranges be linked from one excel workbook to another?

[DisneyONU]

I'm trying to create a link that links several named ranges from one workbook to another. I am able to link the values, but when I create the link using paste special-paste link, it only pastes the values in the range and not the range name with it (which I need in order to use the named range for drop-down menus). Any idea how I can link the data in my lists along with their corresponding names? Is there perhaps a way to link an entire worksheet with all of its information (except for maybe formatting, which as I understand it can't be linked).

Any help is greatly appreciated. I've stumped quite a few people so far.

 

[SkipVought]

Hi,

What's the purpose of linking all these ranges?

Are these ranges single cell ranges or multiple cell ranges?

Assuming that your other workbook has lots of tables (sheets) of data, I'd be using MS Query to grab various data subsets and summaries using various criteria.

Skip,

_{Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a brand NUANCE!}

 

[DisneyONU]

Hi Skip,

Thanks for your response. The ranges are multiple cell ranges, and the purpose of linking them is that I want to be able to make changes in one central file that then update to several other files which have drop-down menus that use these ranges.

I'm not familiar with MS Query. Any on-line references I might check out to familiarize myself with that?

 

[SkipVought]

faq68-5829.

Skip,

_{Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a brand NUANCE!}

 

[DisneyONU]

Thanks for the thoughts.

Unfortunately Query seems to be having problems with my named ranges. I had actually tried using the "Get External Data-Import Data" command previously, but doing that only imports the values without the names of the ranges. Using the Query wizard gave me "Syntax error in FROM clause" even when I deleted the range names oddly enough. The best workaround I've found so far in this quest is to create links from one worksheet to another, create my named ranges in the second worksheet, and then copy the second worksheet with the links and the named ranges to the other files. The only problem with that is any time I want to add a new range I have to re-copy the sheet to every other workbook (doable, but far from ideal).

I'm wondering if there is some way that I can get the links I have to link the range names with the data that I am already able to link, but I haven't found anything yet.

Thanks again for your input.