I am using Excel 2003 and would like to do the following:

I have one file that I’d like to use as a list that all other files within
this project would refer to; this file is simply a list of billing reasons.

Within the multiple (~30) other files I would like to be able to use a drop
down list (in column N) that’s using the data in the “billing reasons” file.

I was informed that this may not work because the “billing reasons” file has
to be open whenever one of the other ~30 files is accessed.  Since these are
files being used over a network, it isn’t feasible to make sure the “billing
reasons” file is open all the time.

So, I would like to be able to use a drop down list in multiple files that’s
using the data in the “billing reasons” file without needing the “billing
reasons” file to be open.  If this can be done, how do I go about doing it?

Thank you in advance.