Basics of Linking Excel to Word

This tutorial provides information on how to create a link from Excel to Word as well as how to make a basic Excel function.

Next: Foundations of Links

This Post Has 4 Comments

  1. Ron Roberts

    Is there an issue with linking formatted text? An issue that was brought up between a friend an I is that the link produced a Times Roman font, yet our word document (the report) was in Ariel. As a result we then have to go back and change the font in the report to be consistent. Not a big deal but an additional step. So, I tried the link with formatted text and it was then in Ariel. I suspect there may be an issue with using formatted text that I am no aware and down the road I may regret using it. What is the difference in using formatted vs unformatted for the link?

    Couple of guys in Nashville

    1. timothymcivor

      Hello,
      That’s a really good question, and I’ve run into this same problem. What’s supposed to happen is that when you link it and click unformatted text, it is supposed to come out the same format as Microsoft Word. When you link formatted text, it is supposed to come out as the same format as it was on Microsoft Excel. This is why I teach in the tutorial to link unformatted text.

      There are times when, unfortunately, there is a glitch and it does not format properly. It will still transfer the correct information but in the wrong format of what it’s supposed to be. I have found that this is much more likely to happen on a Mac computer. However, it’s completely possible that it happens on a PC, but I personally have not run into this problem on my PC laptop. Another trend when a formatting glitch occurs is if you’re putting many links from Excel to word (like 40). This is why I make a different excel to word template for each assessment I use.

      Here’s another observation. Generally when a format glitch occurs, it occurs right after you make the link. Therefore, here is my recommendation. When making the links, save the word document after making each link (a quick ctrl-S). If you notice a format glitch, exit out of Word without saving. Then try it again in that same Word document, and it will very likely not glitch the formatting the second time around.

      Hope this helps!!!
      Tim

  2. Steve

    Cool technique! Thanks for posting this. I’ve done lots with Excel, but never have tried linking it to Word. I’ll definitely try this. An extra tip: I like to protect my formulas by locking them. Unfortunately, to do this, you must “protect” the whole sheet. If you protect part of a sheet, then cut-n-paste from Word, the pasted-into cells will sometimes become locked. The work-around that I’ve found for this is to have an entire sheet dedicated to pasting. (I usually name the tab “RawData.”) Then your formulas are in another tab (of the same workbook) that references =RawData!A1 and so on. -steve

    1. timothymcivor

      Thanks for posting Steve. I agree and use the same technique as well. Coincidentally, I was just showing a person who works for the Nevada Dept of Education this technique too because she couldn’t figure out how to lock cells.

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