vlookup retaining data?

[SABmore]

I've taken over work on several spreasheets and am trying to figure out why
the vlookup in one seems to retain data even after the spreadsheet it is
calling has been deleted.

In my cell I have:
VLOOKUP(A4, 'C:\Spreadsheets\[Test2.xls] MainSheet'!$A$1:$B$204, 3, False)

So from Test1.xls my vlookup is calling Test2.xls, but I've deleted Test2
and Test1 still gets populated. How could this be possible? Thanks.

 

[K Dales]

Do you get the message about updating external links when you open the file?
When you reference an external range in a formula Excel creates a link
stores the value (as of the last time it checked/calculated) as well as the
formula. This is, obviously, because it would slow your worksheet down
considerably if it had to always keep checking the other file for the value.
The link value stays until you refresh the link, at which time it checks the
file and grabs the current value. If you update your link, either by
responding "Yes" when it asks as you open the file, or if you do it manually
through the Edit... Links... menu, or through a recalculation, Excel will at
that time try to find the deleted file, fail to find it, and give the #REF!
error message.