Distributing Linked Files (2000 and up)

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I need to distribute a project, containing a small group of files, to users of varying skills on Wintel and Mac computers. A couple of files containing summary reports create their values from inventory files contained in this group. Is there any way to make them “work” without the user having to know about restoring links? It will be a problem for some, and they are managers! I need to release this project on CD as well, so the issue of read only could be a problem as well. I plan on writing a brief instruction sheet, but would like it to be as simple as possible. I know I can imbed the reports in some of the files, and make the summary accurate as of the release date without links, but it would be nice to have it functional as created. I take care of this myself in our small work group, but this will be going to a broader group, not connected by network, and I don’t want to create a lot of confusion.
Thanks a lot!

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If you put all of the files in the same directory when you create the links, then the links should work fine if the user puts all of the files in the same directory on his machine. You could also create some VBA code that would copy the files from the CD to the user’s hard disk, all in the same directory, and reset the readonly attribute on the files that must not be read only. This VBA code could be in the Open event routine of a .xls file on the CD. If you name this file INSTALL.xls, and the user double clicks it, your VBA code could do everything that is necessary (incuding fixing any links if really necessary).

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Thank you so much for such a quick reply! It is very comforting to know that creating the link in the same directory and then storing the group together on the user’s machine will solve my major problem. I really like the idea of the VBA code for an Install.xls, but I don’t have much experience in VBA. Is it pretty simple? Could you direct me to some help on creating the file?
Thank you again!

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There is a lot of VBA code here in the Lounge that you can study. We will also be glad to help if you ask specific questions. If you give a detailed description of what you want to do, someone here will probably turn it into code for you.

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