This is how you dynamically link Excel charts to PowerPoint and Word

This guide will help you understand the steps to create and dynamically link charts in Excel with PowerPoint and Word. The ability to effectively present data is essential in the professional world. Often, important numbers are analyzed in Excel, but the presentation is done in PowerPoint or Word. To ensure that your data is always up to date, we will show you how to link these applications together.

Main Highlights

• Charts and tables from Excel can be dynamically linked with PowerPoint and Word, so updates in Excel are automatically reflected in the other programs.
• Inserting the links is done through specific options in the Insert menu.
• The link remains even after the initial creation, ensuring that your presentation material stays up to date.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Copy Excel Data

First, open your Excel file and have the relevant data or charts in front of you. Make sure all data is correct before starting the copying process.

Select the entire table or chart you want to copy, either with the mouse or the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl + A". Once the data is selected, press "Ctrl + C" to copy it to the clipboard.

2. Create Link in PowerPoint

Now switch to PowerPoint. Open the slide where you want to paste the data. Instead of simply pasting the data, you will link it dynamically to Excel.

Right-click in the PowerPoint menu and choose "Paste Special". Here, you will find the option to "Paste Link". Select this option to insert the data as a linked object.

3. Insert Excel Chart in PowerPoint

Want to insert a chart you created in Excel into PowerPoint? No problem! Make sure the chart is also copied, then go back to PowerPoint.

Again, choose "Paste Special", and then click on "Paste Link Microsoft Excel Chart Object". Your chart will now also be dynamically linked, allowing you to automatically display future changes from Excel in PowerPoint.

4. Link Excel Data in Word

The next step is to link your Excel data to a Word document. Open your Word document and position the cursor where the data should be inserted.

Similar to PowerPoint, copy the Excel data using "Ctrl + C" and then right-click in Word at your desired location. Choose "Paste Special" and then the option "Paste Link" to add the Excel table.

5. Insert Chart in Word

To insert a chart from Excel into Word, follow the same steps as before. Copy the chart and go to the Word document.

Here, paste it again using "Paste Special" and select "Paste Link Microsoft Excel Chart Object". The chart will now also be dynamically linked here, showing changes from the Excel file in the Word document.

6. Add Graphic Adjustments and Labels

Once the links are set up, you can make further adjustments. In Word, you can add additional labels or titles to the inserted content.

Click on "References" and then on "Insert Caption". Here you can assign, for example, "Table 1: Monthly Numbers" to the table or chart, making the content clearer for anyone reading the document.

Summary

During this tutorial, you learned how to copy data and charts from Excel and dynamically link them to PowerPoint and Word. This way, your presentations and reports will always be up to date and accurate – a valuable skill in the fast-paced work environment.