External references and 255 character limit

Within Excel there is an issue with copying data with forumulas where the referenced cell has more than 255 characters. The following link has a solution (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/213841/), but I need to copy the data from an external reference that has more than 255 characters. I would like to incorporate this when the Update message appears at startup, but I cannot find how to link into that update.

Example: Workbook A references Workbook B via formula and external reference. The cell in Workbook B has more than 255 characters. Excel will truncate this to 255 in Workbook A (not desired).

Thanks,
Andy