Excel Linked Objects – Making Excel Reports that Spread the Word

 Excel is good at so many things and we love it. However, when it comes to reports and presentations we rely on other applications in the office suite like Microsoft Word and Powerpoint. There is no real problem in pasting the data tables and charts in word documents or powerpoint slides until the data in Excel changes which is not reflected in word files and/or power point slides and that is quite a task in itself to get the data and paste it again at all places and reformat things etc.

But you don’t really have to if know the sweet little trick that caters this very problem and today we are going to learn it!

What we want is that if the data in Excel updates or any changes are made to data or chart it must show up in word or Powerpoint automatically. To do this follow these steps:

Step 1: Copy the data or chart from Excel as normal

Step 2: Go to the application where you want to paste the data i.e. word or powerpoint

Step 3: Click the drop-down arrow under paste button > Paste special > select paste link option from the left > select Microsoft Excel worksheet object > Click OK button.

DONE! Following animation walks you through the three steps:

Now if you change the data in Excel. It will show up in Word or Powerpoint as well. Simple yet so amazing!

Here is the illustration for pasting charts from Excel to another application in the office suit and watch it dance the same way as you say the data: