Carry data into a new budget year w/o original file path name?

[ljubav]

I am currently using Excel 2003.
My budget worksheets consist of 10 workbooks which all have cells linked to
each other. (exa: Salaries links to Employees which links to Resource which
links to Summary). I start with a file folder for 07_08 in which I create a
folder entitled 07_08 Budget. This file folder contains each of the 10
workbooks (C:\Documents and Settings\computer name\Desktop\Budget\07_08
Budget). I then have to update it twice a year for interim reports - First
Interim 07_08 and Second Interim 07_08. Within the original 07_08 folder, I
create a new file folder for each interim report (C:\Documents and
Settings\computer name\Desktop\Budget\07_08\07_08 2nd Interim). I use the
Second Interim set of worksheets as the starting point for my 08_09 budget
duplicating the process above.
Currently the 10 workbooks within each budget and interim folder are
prefaced by 06_07 (exa: 06_07 Salaries) because at one point I determined it
would be helpful to be able to look at two budget periods at once and Excel
wouldn't allow me to open up two files with the same names even though they
were in different directories. I tried renaming the workbook files to the
current year but then the information wouldn't carry forward because Excel
couldn't find the correct path.
Is there some way to carry forward the links, formulas and data into a new
budget period and change the path to correspond with the current period.
Should I be carrying the data forward as a template rather than copying the
files? Is there some way to open two periods at the same time with a new
method? Thanks in advance for your assistance.

 

[SSG QuarterMaster]

First question would be this: does your file link to the others or do they
link to yours? if yours links to the others then you can follow this process:

Create the new set of files for the upcoming year and rename them however
you normally do it. Then open each file and click on Edit>links (if
selectable). When the edit links window opens you will see the source file
window on the left, this lists all the links that this file has. click on
each one and select "change source" and select the correct file to link to. I
suggested to do this to each file because it sounds like they are all related
to each other and you want to be sure to edit all links. If I remember
another way then I will let you know. If I had a better idea of how your
files are set up then I might be able to come up with something better. I
hope this helps some.

 

[ljubav]

Hi there.
Thank you very much for your reply. I'm not quite sure what you meant by
the following:
First question would be this: does your file link to the others or do they
link to yours?
They are all my files and are not on a network. The workbooks are (an
abbreviated list in order):
Salaries
Employees (pulls Data from Salaries workbook)
Program (pulls Data from Employees workbook)
Summary (pulls Data from Program workbook)
I want to be able to use the last update in the year as the starting point
for making adjustments to the current year without the path picking up the
prior year folder designation.
It occurred to me a day or so ago that perhaps I could just put everything
in one workbook and just color code the tabs instead of having separate
workbooks for each designation, but I am afraid it might get unwieldly.
What I know of Excel has mostly be by trial and error. I hope I am making
some sort of sense to you.
Once again, I truly appreciate your help. It is time to start budgeting for
next year and I'd like to start out with the files configured the way I want
to carry them forward if possible.