In this presentation, you’ll learn from Excel expert David Ringstrom, CPA, how to create and navigate workbook links in Excel. Workbook links, which are quite beneficial, allow you to connect one Excel spreadsheet to other spreadsheets, Word documents, databases, and even web pages. David shows you how to dramatically improve the integrity of linked workbooks, copy links across rows or down columns, repair broken links, and more.

David demonstrates every technique at least twice: first, on a PowerPoint slide with numbered steps, and second, in Excel 2016. He draws your attention to any differences in Excel 2013, 2010, or 2007 during the presentation as well as in his detailed handouts. David also provides an Excel workbook that includes most of the examples he uses during the webcast.

Topics Covered:

  • Controlling whether or not linked workbooks update automatically and how to suppress unwanted prompts.
  • Creating flexible workbook links that can be copied down columns or across rows.
  • Learning about a free tool you can use to locate even the most buried workbook links.
  • Eliminating the risk of workbook links by using Microsoft Query to get data from one workbook into another.
  • Employing the SUMIF function to sum values related to multiple instances of criteria you specify.
  • Integrating data on web pages into your workbooks and creating automatic links.
  • Learning how to arrange two worksheets from within the same workbook on-screen and at the same time.
  • Learning how to break links to other workbooks and data sources.
  • Learning how to repair broken workbook links.
  • Learning the most efficient way to link Word documents and Excel spreadsheets.
  • Learning the risks of linked workbooks, determining if a workbook contains links, and seeing how links can hide within Excel features.
  • Learning which functions to avoid when creating workbook links.
Learning Objectives
  • Identify how to create links that can be copied down columns or across rows.
  • Recognize how to link Excel workbooks to other sources.
  • Discover how to apply security prompts and settings related to linked workbooks.
Last updated/reviewed: August 9, 2023

Included In Certifications

This course is included in the following Certification Programs:

17 CoursesExcel Modeler Certification

  1. Excel Efficiency: VLOOKUP
  2. Excel Efficiency: Logic Functions
  3. Excel Efficiency: Filtering and Formatting Data
  4. Excel Efficiency: Intermediate Pivot Tables
  5. Excel Efficiency: Auditing Spreadsheets
  6. Excel Efficiency: Minimizing Worksheet Errors
  7. Excel Efficiency: Workbook Links
  8. Excel Efficiency: What-If Analysis in Microsoft Excel
  9. Excel Efficiency: Quick and Easy Financial Statements in Excel
  10. Excel Efficiency: Budget Spreadsheets
  11. Hands-On Excel: Waterfall Calculations
  12. Excel Efficiency: Table Feature
  13. Excel Efficiency: Intro to Macros Part 1
  14. Excel Efficiency: Intro to Macros Part 2
  15. Excel Efficiency: Excel Chart Speed Tips
  16. Excel Efficiency: Taming Large Spreadsheets
  17. Excel Efficiency: Internal Controls
11 Reviews (42 ratings)

Reviews

5
Member's Profile
Very good course, he takes you through every step beforehand, and then performs the steps after. Useful pro tips, I liked the part on how excel data is linked into Word, I used to do it a little differently and it was no where as good. Futher, the Microsoft Query as an alternative to links was quite useful as well....useful pro tips!

5
Anonymous Author
This course was very helpful in understanding why I was having errors with my linked spreadsheets. I am very pleased to have learned about Microsoft Query. This is a tool that I had never even heard of, but it can be applied to so many files that I work with on a daily basis.

3
Anonymous Author
Some useful information but an awful lot of "click this,click this". Pretty redundant information. Could have been 100 minutes for 2 hours credit instead of 140 minutes.

5
Anonymous Author
Great course, excellent material to helped me to learn more how apply tools form excel. I recommended it course if you want to success working with data.

5
Member's Profile
Very good pacing. Covered many items that I have already knew about as a frequent user but also covered some new topics such as linking to websites

5
Anonymous Author
Great help on why some of my externally linked formulas give me fits why others don't and an interesting potential work around using Microsoft Query.

5
Member's Profile
This was a great course to increase understanding the linking of excel workbooks and spreadsheets and using data from Access.

5
Anonymous Author
This is a very detailed step by step course that explain very clearly what can be done to link workbooks.

5
Member's Profile
Very informative. Love the detail in the slides so that I can use the steps with my data.

5
Member's Profile
Lots of new information for me and I have used Excel for years and years.

5
Member's Profile
Great course! Covered several areas a finance pro should know.

Prerequisites
Course Complexity: Advanced

Program Prerequisites: Experience with Excel Spreadsheets

Advance Preparation: None

Education Provider Information
Company: Illumeo, Inc., 75 East Santa Clara St., Suite 1215, San Jose, CA 95113
Contact: For more information regarding this course, including complaint and cancellation policies, please contact our offices at (408) 400- 3993 or send an e-mail to .
Instructor for this course
Course Syllabus
INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
  Introduction to Excel Efficiency: Workbook Links9:16
  Creating a Workbook Link8:47
  Linked Workbook Security Settings 6:52
  Find Links in a Workbook 6:15
  Another Place that Links Sometimes Hide8:17
  Using the Link Finder Tool8:44
  Correcting Broken Workbook Links5:53
  SUMIF/Linked Workbooks8:15
  SUMPRODUCT/Linked Workbooks6:24
  Microsoft Query as Workbook Link Alternative Part 16:41
  Microsoft Query as Workbook Link Alternative Part 26:15
  Microsoft Query as Workbook Link Alternative Part 37:56
  Formatting Linked Excel Data In Word5:00
  Link Data from Web Pages & Conclusion5:27
CONTINUOUS PLAY
  Excel Efficiency: Workbook Links1:40:00
SUPPORTING Materials
  Slides: Excel Efficiency: Workbook LinksPDF
  Excel Efficiency: Workbook Links Glossary/IndexPDF
  Workbook: Excel Efficiency: Workbook Links Glossary/IndexXLSX
REVIEW AND TEST
  REVIEW QUESTIONSquiz
 FINAL EXAMexam