Excel opening linked files / data connections if source file is currently open

[baadams]

Currently I've got a n Excel workbook with 3 external data sources. 2 of those sources are data dumps from SAP/BOBJ and I don't have an issue. The 3rd data connection is another Excel file used my multiple other users. The 3rd file is the issue, if someone has it open when the data connection refreshes it opens that file. The issue being that source file has a macro prompt to run some VBA. So when I try and refresh the data connection within the current workbook each time it opens the source file and starts the prompt to run the VBA. It's pretty inconvenient that this file opens and makes the user answer a few prompts, just to close the file without saving it.

Is there a way to keep this file from opening even if I want the data within the current workbook to be refreshed from the source file if someone has it open? This seems like a simple issue, that has me stumped.

I've tried eliminating the data connection and linking directly to the data I need, but it does the same thing.