How to Import Excel Tables Into MS Word

Linked content from Excel can display as an icon or as a spreadsheet.

Microsoft has supported the linking or embedding of other files, such as pictures or Excel documents in Word files, for years. In Microsoft Office 2010, the Word application supports this feature using the Paste Special command. When you use this feature, the link between the documents is created as a field code, which has switches you can configure to modify how the file is handled. A switch is a letter code prefaced by a backslash.

Instructions

1. Highlight and copy the content in Excel that you wish to embed in the Word document.

2. Switch to the Word document.

3. Place the cursor where you want the imported data.

4. Click the arrow under "Paste" in the "Clipboard" segment of the "Home" menu. Choose "Paste Special" from this menu.

5. Click the circle next to "Paste Link." Highlight "Microsoft Office Excel Worksheet Object" in the box that says "As" and click "OK."

6. Press "Alt" and "F9" at the same time. This turns on the field code display. The embedded link should appear something like this: {LINK Application "File Path" [Range] [Switches]}

7. Modify switches if desired. Switches control options for automatic or manual updating and formatting. For example, choosing \A tells Word to automatically update the linked field. The full list of switches is available in Reference 1.

References

• Microsoft: Field Codes: Link Field
• Microsoft: Insert and Format Field Codes