Automatically Update Data from Closed Workbooks?

Question

I'm trying to automatically update data in a master workbook that is linked to 8 other workbooks on my network drive.

The 8 other workbooks read the year from the master workbook and then change their data which in turn feeds back to the master.

Unfortunately, I can only get the data to update real-time in the the master workbook if I have all 8 other workbooks open. Is there a way to change this so that I do not have to open each individual linked workbook?

I have already tried enabling all Macros, all ActiveX controls, automatic update for Workbook Links, and all Data Connections in the the Trust Center. Nothing happens when I try to click Refresh All under the Data tab>Connections, and nothing happens when I say Update Values under the Edit Links window. I'm working in Excel 2013 with Windows 7 Professional. Any tips or advice would be appreciated!

Answer 1

This can not be done without the use of VBA which can open and update. But I believe you can try below as one of possible solutions as it avoids VBA code (VBA is there in the background) -

http://www.ashishmathur.com/extract-data-from-m...

Answer 2

I don't know that this is a viable answer for my condition. This group of workbooks will be also be copied and used outside of our network, so then we would have to install this add-in in every computer that uses it. Also it just pulls data from closed workbooks, it doesn't say whether the closed workbooks actually calculate and update in real time.