Bill Golden
asked on
Inserting and linking Excel graph to Word doc
I need a clear, step by step, set of instructions to insert and link an Excel 2016 graph into a Word 2016 document. There are literally 100s of websites that either briefly, but inadequately, describe the process or overwhelm you with 15 variations on a theme.
Simply put,
1. I want to mark the chart in Excel
2. Put the chart into a Word doc
3. And do so that when the Word doc (which is updated monthly) reflects the changes to the Excel graph (also which is updated monthly.)
I have attached a sample Word file and sample Excel workbook. In this particular sample, the Quarterly graph is pasted into the upper 2/3rds of Page 4 of the Word file. I realize there is some one-time resizing that has to be done.
Any help is sincerely appreciated.
ABC-Inc-GRAPH-1803-Regular-R6.xlsmABC-Inc.---1803-v-1703---CCQRL---Re.docm
Simply put,
1. I want to mark the chart in Excel
2. Put the chart into a Word doc
3. And do so that when the Word doc (which is updated monthly) reflects the changes to the Excel graph (also which is updated monthly.)
I have attached a sample Word file and sample Excel workbook. In this particular sample, the Quarterly graph is pasted into the upper 2/3rds of Page 4 of the Word file. I realize there is some one-time resizing that has to be done.
Any help is sincerely appreciated.
ABC-Inc-GRAPH-1803-Regular-R6.xlsmABC-Inc.---1803-v-1703---CCQRL---Re.docm
Here is the way I prefer to do this.
1. Place both the Excel file and the Word file into the same folder.
2. Open the Excel file and the Word file.
3. Make any changes to your chart, then save the Excel file.
4. Copy the chart.
5. Right-click in Word to paste the chart. You will have 5 options, each indicated by an icon (pictured below).
To link the files, you will want to choose either icon 3 or icon 4.
Icon 3 is Use Destination Theme and Link Data. In this case, the chart will pick up colors and fonts from your Word document. (Word is trying to make the chart look like it matches everything else in the Word document.)
Icon 4 is Keep Source Formatting and Link Data. In this case, the chart will keep its Excel formatting.
If you've not made a lot of manual changes and are using the default Office theme, you may not see any difference between the two. In that case, either option 3 or 4 will work.
6. Save your Word file.
1. Place both the Excel file and the Word file into the same folder.
2. Open the Excel file and the Word file.
3. Make any changes to your chart, then save the Excel file.
4. Copy the chart.
5. Right-click in Word to paste the chart. You will have 5 options, each indicated by an icon (pictured below).
To link the files, you will want to choose either icon 3 or icon 4.
Icon 3 is Use Destination Theme and Link Data. In this case, the chart will pick up colors and fonts from your Word document. (Word is trying to make the chart look like it matches everything else in the Word document.)
Icon 4 is Keep Source Formatting and Link Data. In this case, the chart will keep its Excel formatting.
If you've not made a lot of manual changes and are using the default Office theme, you may not see any difference between the two. In that case, either option 3 or 4 will work.
6. Save your Word file.
ASKER
Thank you. I will attempt these suggestions this evening. I used to know how to do this but I am working in a post-chemo fog!
You can Copy from Excel, but none of the right-click Paste options will do what you need to have it “live” linked within your Word document.
To do that, you need to use the pull-down for Home > Clipboard > Paste to bring up the Paste Special dialog box.
This will add a “LINK” field code within your Word document that will automatically update when the chart changes in Excel. (The default link uses basic options, and may be sufficient for what you need. However, more options are available by editing or adding switches in the field code. Refer to this Microsoft page for details about the LINK field code and its switches.)
Note that the files you attached are saved as “macro -enabled” (.docm & .xlsm). For most users with security set as recommended, this means Word & Excel will put up security alert warnings and make it difficult for people to test.
To do that, you need to use the pull-down for Home > Clipboard > Paste to bring up the Paste Special dialog box.
This will add a “LINK” field code within your Word document that will automatically update when the chart changes in Excel. (The default link uses basic options, and may be sufficient for what you need. However, more options are available by editing or adding switches in the field code. Refer to this Microsoft page for details about the LINK field code and its switches.)
Note that the files you attached are saved as “macro -enabled” (.docm & .xlsm). For most users with security set as recommended, this means Word & Excel will put up security alert warnings and make it difficult for people to test.
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ASKER
Thanks, today I will be testing the various suggestions I received.
Bill
Bill
ASKER
Thanks for the help.
It's called OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) which has worked since the mid 1990's.