What happens to worksheets as a workbook is modified over time?

When a workbook is modified over time, worksheets may become outdated or irrelevant depending on the changes made within the workbook. This can occur due to changes in business processes, data structures, or updates to the underlying models or formulas influencing those worksheets. As versions evolve, certain worksheets that once had value might no longer align with the current needs or objectives, leading to their obsolescence or reduced usage.

In contrast, automatic updates to the latest version are not a straightforward reality since worksheets may not inherently adapt to changes made externally unless explicitly programmed to do so. Being saved as separate files is not a standard behavior for worksheets within a workbook; they typically exist within the main workbook file unless manually saved otherwise. Permanently deleting worksheets is a more drastic action that is not inherently tied to the general modification of a workbook; they may simply become unused without being removed. Therefore, the notion that worksheets might no longer be used captures the transitional nature of workbooks as they are updated over time.