Please explain what you mean by "usually". There may be code in the source workbook which suppresses certain Excel actions that another workbook's open event calls for, perhaps based on time or user ID or some global condition. It'd help if we saw the code from both workbooks to make an assessment.
Tom Urtis
Steve,
In order to execute the Workbook_Open subroutine when opening the workbook using VBA, I believe you need to use the Run method of the Application object:
Workbook.Open "SomeOtherWorkbook"
Application.Run "SomeOtherWorkbook.xls!Workbook_Open"
You might have to check the syntax, but that should get you to where you want to be.
enjoy