How to Create a Word Template With a Link to Excel

Creating a link to your Excel project in Word is an effective method of sharing data between these two applications because it not only adds the spreadsheet content to your word processing document, but also automatically updates each time you make a change in Excel. Further, links allow for smaller file sizes because you are not actually embedding the Excel data in your Word document. Using both Microsoft applications, you can create your own Excel link and create a template in Word to use this ready-made feature over and over.

Things You'll Need

• Microsoft Word and Excel applications
• Word and Excel files

Instructions

1. Launch your Microsoft Word and Excel applications and then open your Word and Excel files. Click "File" > "Open."

2. Select items in Excel such as your spreadsheet, a range of cells or a graph that you want Word to link to, and then copy the data. Click "Edit" > "Copy." Alternately, you can simultaneously press the "CTRL" and "C" buttons on your keyboard to perform the copy.

3. Place your cursor in the Word document page where you want the link to Excel to appear and paste the Excel data. Depending on the version of Word you are using, this process may differ. For example, in many Word versions, you must choose "Paste Special" under the "Edit" menu to go to the "Paste Special" dialog box, and then click the "Paste Link" radio button to select the "Microsoft Excel Worksheet Object" option. In Word 2007, click the clipboard icon on the "Home" tab and select "Paste Special" to get to the "Paste Special" dialog box where you create the link. In each version, click the "OK" button to actually place your Excel content in the Word document as a link.

4. Save your Word document as a template so that you can retain the Excel link and reuse the file when you want to. Click "File" > "Save As." Type in a file name for your template in the provided text field and choose the "Document Template" option from the "Format" menu. Click the "Save" button when finished to create the "DOT" file that indicates this is a Word template.

Tips & Warnings

• You can re-size the Excel data by clicking on it in Word and dragging the corners out or in to make the view larger or smaller.

• If you place the Excel file in a folder or other location, be sure to create a new link by using the process in step three.

References

• Microsoft Office Online: Link or Embed an Excel Worksheet

Resources

• Microsoft Office Online: Help and How-To Home Page