Linking and Embedding Files

Information created using other Office programs can be shared among them. This means that data created in an Excel workbook, can be included in a Word document without being retyped. This makes projects such as annual or departmental reports simple to create. Information can be either linked or embedded . Data that is linked has the advantage of always being accurate because it is automatically updated when the linked document is modified.

Create a Link to Another File

Open the source file and any files containing information you want to link.

Select the information in the source file, and then click the Copy button on the Standard toolbar.

Click the insertion point in the file containing the link.

Click the Edit menu, and then click Paste Special.

Click Paste Link.

Modify a Link

Open the file that contains the link you want to modify.

Click the Edit menu, and then click Links.

Click the link you want to change.

To break the link, click Break Link, and then click.

To change the way you update data, click Startup Prompt, click a startup option, and then click OK.

To manually update the data, click Update Values.

Click Close.

Embed a New Object

Click the Insert menu, and then click Object.

Click the Create New tab.

Click the object type you want to insert.

Click OK.

Follow the necessary steps to insert the object.

The steps will vary depending on the object type.

Embed or Link to an Existing Object

Click the Insert menu, and then click Object.

Click the Create From File tab.

Click Browse, and then locate the file that you want to link.

To create a link to the object, select the Link To File check box.

Click OK.

Did You Know?

You can edit an embedded object . Edit an embedded object only if the program that created it is installed on your computer.

You can update links each time you open a linked document . When you open a workbook that contains links, a warning dialog box opens asking you if you want to update all linked information (click Yes) or to keep the existing information (click No).