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Attach an Excel file to PowerPoint
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Linking Excel files to a PowerPoint presentation lets you present and display complex data in a much simpler form that people can understand. When you edit data on the Excel sheet, it will automatically modify the linked data without needing to edit the presentation itself. Keep in mind this can only be done in the desktop app, not the web version. Here's how to link Excel to PowerPoint on your Windows or Mac computer.

Quick Steps

  1. In PowerPoint, click Insert .
  2. Click Object .
  3. Select Create from file .
  4. Click Browse and select your file.
  5. Click the Link checkbox .
  6. Click OK .
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Linking an Entire File

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  1. Open a project in Microsoft PowerPoint . You can only link data from an Excel worksheet using the desktop application. Currently, this can't be done on the web version. [1]
  2. This is the tab at the top.
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  3. You can find this in the Text section, next to Slide Number .
    • If you don't see the text, click the icon of a small, blue square on top of a rectangle.
    • A new window will open.
  4. This is the option on the left. The bubble will be filled in.
    • If you're using a Mac, skip this step.
  5. Make sure it's the file with the data you want to insert.
    • If you're using a Mac, click From file… and select your file. Then, click Insert .
  6. This is how your changes will be synced to PowerPoint if you make changes to the Excel file.
    • You can select Display as icon if you want the Excel file to show up as a clickable icon rather than the entire worksheet.
  7. The file will be linked to PowerPoint.
    • If prompted, click Grant Access to allow the Excel file to be inserted into PowerPoint.
    • If you don't see the correct worksheet in PowerPoint, open the Excel file. Make sure the worksheet is the one that appears first. You may need to reorder the worksheets.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Linking a Section of Data

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  1. Open a workbook in Microsoft Excel . To link a certain table, graph, or section of Excel, you'll need to copy and "paste special" into the PowerPoint slide.
    • This method ensures the data linked will be updated on PowerPoint if you make changes on Excel. If you'd rather paste the raw data, skip to the next section.
  2. Drag your cursor over the area to highlight it.
  3. This is on the Home tab. You can also press CTRL + C (Windows) or CMD + C (Mac).
  4. Now that the data is copied, you can paste it into your slide.
  5. This is on the Home tab. More options will open.
  6. This is the bottom option. A new window will open.
  7. This is the option on the left. The bubble will be filled in.
    • Microsoft Excel Worksheet Object should already be selected underneath the As header. If it isn't, click it.
    • If you're using a Mac, skip this step.
  8. The data will be linked to Excel.
    • If you made changes in Excel and it isn't showing up on PowerPoint, right-click the data in PowerPoint and click Update Link .
      • If you're using a Mac, remove the Excel data from your PowerPoint, and then add the updated data again.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Copy and Paste Raw Data

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  1. In Microsoft Excel, drag your cursor over the data to highlight it.
    • To copy it, press CTRL + C (Windows) or CMD + C (Mac).
    • You can also click Copy on the Home tab.
  2. Now that the data is copied, you can paste it into your slide.
  3. This is on the Home tab. More options will open.
  4. Some options may not appear due to the type of data you've copied. You can select the following:
    • Use Destination Styles/Theme : uses the format of your PowerPoint presentation to create a table
    • Keep Source Formatting : uses the format of the Excel worksheet
    • Embed : copies the data as information that can be edited later in Excel
    • Picture : copies the data as a picture that cannot be edited
    • Keep Text Only : copies data as a single text box
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      Tips

      • To link Excel documents to a PowerPoint presentation using the older Microsoft Office suite, you need to resave the Excel file to a format that the old PowerPoint program can read.
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