Linked excel file in powerpoint

PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 PowerPoint 2021 PowerPoint 2019 PowerPoint 2016 PowerPoint 2013 PowerPoint 2010 More…Less

If you are using PowerPoint 2013 or a newer version, you can link data from a saved Excel worksheet to your PowerPoint presentation. That way, if data in the worksheet changes, you can easily update it in your PowerPoint presentation.

Link an entire Excel worksheet to PowerPoint

  1. In PowerPoint, on the Insert tab, click or tap Object.

    object selection on insert tab

  2. In the Insert Object dialog box, select Create from file.

    file browse dialog box

  3. Click or tap Browse, and in the Browse box, find the Excel workbook with the data you want to insert and link to.

  4. Before you close the Insert Object box, select Link, and click OK.

    choosing link for inserting a file into powerpoint

    Important: The linked object in your presentation displays all the data from the active, top worksheet in the linked Excel workbook. When you save the Excel workbook, make sure the worksheet you want in your presentation is the one you see when you first open the workbook.

Link a section of data in Excel to PowerPoint

  1. In Excel, open the saved workbook with the data you want to insert and link to.

  2. Drag over the area of data you want to link to in PowerPoint, and on the Home tab, click or tap Copy.

  3. In PowerPoint, click the slide where you want to paste the copied worksheet data.

  4. On the Home tab, click the arrow below Paste, and select Paste Special.

    show paste special option

  5. In the Paste Special box, click Paste link, and then, under As, select Microsoft Excel Worksheet Object.

    shows pasting file as link dialog

Copy and paste (unlinked) Excel data in PowerPoint

In this case, the Excel data will not be linked to your PowerPoint presentation. You copy the data from an Excel worksheet and paste it into your presentation. The worksheet does not send automatic updates to PowerPoint.

  1. In Excel, open the workbook with the data you want to copy.

  2. Drag over the area of data you want to copy, and on the Home tab, click or tap Copy.

  3. In PowerPoint, click the slide where you want to paste the copied worksheet data.

  4. On the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click the arrow below Paste.

  5. Under Paste Options, pick one of the following. Move the mouse pointer over each Paste option to see a preview of what it would look like.

    Use Destination Styles

    Use Destination Styles to copy the data as a PowerPoint table, using the format of the presentation

    Keep Source Formatting

    Keep Source Formatting to copy the Excel data as a PowerPoint table, using the format of the worksheet

    Embed

    Embed to copy the data as information that can be edited in Excel later

    Picture to copy the data as a picture that can’t be edited in Excel

    Keep Text Only

    Keep Text Only to copy all the data as a single text box

See Also

Copy an Excel chart to another Office program

Insert a linked worksheet

To insert and link a saved Excel worksheet onto your PowerPoint slide, do the following:

Important: The linked object in your presentation displays all data from the active, top worksheet in the linked Excel workbook.

  1. In PowerPoint 2010, on the Insert tab, in the Text group, click Object.

  2. In the Insert Object dialog box, select Create from file.

  3. Click Browse, and in the Browse dialog box, browse to and then select the Excel workbook that contains the information that you want to insert, and then click OK.

  4. In the Insert Object dialog box, select Link and then click OK.

To edit a linked Excel worksheet, do one of the following:

  • To edit the data from within Excel, right-click the object on the slide, point to Linked Worksheet Object, and select Edit.

  • To update the data on the slide to match the data in the original Excel file, right-click the object on the slide, and click Update Link.

Insert a linked selection from a worksheet

To insert and link a selection of data from a saved Excel worksheet, do the following:

  1. In Excel, open the workbook containing that data that you want to insert.

  2. Select and copy the data that you want.

    Keyboard shortcut    You can press CTRL+C to copy the data.

  3. In PowerPoint 2010, click the slide where you want to paste the copied worksheet data.

  4. On the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click the arrow below Paste, and select Paste Special.

  5. In the Paste Special dialog box, under As, select a Microsoft Excel Worksheet Object.

  6. Select the Paste link check box and click OK.

To edit a selection of cells from a linked Excel worksheet, do one of the following:

  • To edit the data from within Excel, right-click the object on the slide, point to Linked Worksheet Object, and select Edit.

  • To update the data on the slide to match the data in the original Excel file, right-click the object on the slide, and click Update Link.

Copy a selection of cells onto a slide

To paste a copy a selection of Excel data onto your PowerPoint slide, do the following:

Note: Data copied and pasted onto a PowerPoint slide does not automatically update when the data is changed in the Excel workbook. To link the data on the PowerPoint slide to the original Excel data source, see the «Insert a linked selection from a worksheet» section immediately above.

  1. In Excel, open the workbook that contains the information that you want to copy.

  2. Select and copy the data that you want.

    Keyboard shortcut    You can press CTRL+C to copy the data.

  3. In PowerPoint 2010, click the slide where you want to paste the copied worksheet data.

  4. On the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click the arrow below Paste.

  5. Under Paste Options, do one of the following:

    1. Select Keep Source Formatting if you want to copy the data as a PowerPoint table, but want it keep the appearance of the original Excel worksheet.

    2. Select Use Destination Styles if you want to copy the data as a PowerPoint table, but want it to assume the appearance of the PowerPoint presentation.

    3. Select Embed if you want to copy the data as information that can be edited in PowerPoint.

    4. Select Picture if you want to copy the data as an un-editable picture.

    5. Select Keep Text Only if you want to copy all the data as a single text box.

See Also

Import content from other applications

Copy an Excel chart to another Office program

Need more help?

PowerPoint для Microsoft 365 PowerPoint 2021 PowerPoint 2019 PowerPoint 2016 PowerPoint 2013 PowerPoint 2010 Еще…Меньше

Если вы используетеPowerPoint 2013 или более новую версию, можно связать данные из сохраненного листа Excel с презентацией PowerPoint. Таким образом, если данные на листе изменяются, их можно легко обновить в презентации PowerPoint.

Связывание всего листа Excel с PowerPoint

  1. В PowerPoint на вкладке Вставка нажмите кнопку Объект.

    object selection on insert tab

  2. В диалоговом окне Вставка объекта выберите пункт Создать из файла.

    file browse dialog box

  3. Нажмите кнопку Обзор, а затем найдите книгу Excel с нужными данными в окне Обзор.

  4. Прежде чем закрывать окно Вставка объекта, установите флажок Связать и нажмите кнопку ОК.

    choosing link for inserting a file into powerpoint

    Важно: Связанный объект в презентации отображает все данные из активного верхнего листа в связанной книге Excel. При сохранении книги Excel убедитесь, что нужный лист в презентации отображается при первом открытии книги.

Связывание раздела данных в Excel с PowerPoint

  1. В Excel откройте сохраненную книгу с данными, которые нужно вставить и связать.

  2. Перетащите указатель мыши на область данных, с которой нужно связаться в PowerPoint, а затем на вкладке Главная щелкните или коснитесь кнопки Копировать.

  3. В PowerPoint выберите слайд, на который нужно вставить скопированные данные листа.

  4. На вкладке Главная нажмите стрелку под кнопкой Вставить и выберите пункт Специальная вставка.

    show paste special option

  5. В окне Специальная вставка установите переключатель Связать, а затем в поле Как выберите пункт Лист Microsoft Excel.

    shows pasting file as link dialog

Копирование и вставка (без связи) данных Excel в PowerPoint

В таком случае данные Excel не будут связаны с презентацией PowerPoint. Данные копируются с листа Excel и вставляются в презентацию. Лист не будет автоматически отправлять обновления в PowerPoint.

  1. Откройте в Excel книгу с данными, которые нужно скопировать.

  2. Выделите область данных, которые нужно скопировать, а затем на вкладке Главная нажмите кнопку Копировать.

  3. В PowerPoint выберите слайд, на который нужно вставить скопированные данные листа.

  4. На вкладке Главная в группе Буфер обмена щелкните стрелку под кнопкой Вставка.

  5. В разделе Параметры вставки выберите один из следующих вариантов. Наведите указатель мыши на каждый параметр Вставить, чтобы просмотреть предварительный просмотр того, как он будет выглядеть.

    Использовать стили конечного фрагмента

    Использование стилей назначения для копирования данных в виде таблицы PowerPoint с использованием формата презентации

    Сохранить исходное форматирование

    Сохранение исходного форматирования для копирования данных Excel в виде таблицы PowerPoint с использованием формата листа

    Внедрение

    Внедрение для копирования данных в виде сведений, которые можно изменить в Excel позже

    замещающий текст

    Рисунок для копирования данных в виде рисунка, который нельзя изменить в Excel

    Сохранить только текст

    Сохранение только текста для копирования всех данных в виде одного текстового поля

См. также

Копирование диаграммы Excel в другую программу Office

Вставка связанного листа

Чтобы вставить сохраненный лист Excel и связать его с PowerPoint слайдом, сделайте следующее:

Важно: Связанный объект в презентации отображает все данные с активного верхнего листа в связанной Excel книге.

  1. В PowerPoint 2010 на вкладке Вставка в группе Текст щелкните Объект.

  2. В диалоговом окне Вставка объекта выберите пункт Создать из файла.

  3. Нажмите кнопку Обзор и в диалоговом окне Обзор найдите и выберите книгу Excel, содержащую сведения, которые нужно вставить, и нажмите кнопку ОК.

  4. В диалоговом окне Вставка объекта выберите Ссылка и нажмите кнопку ОК.

Чтобы изменить связанный лист Excel, выполните одно из следующих действий:

  • Чтобы изменить данные из Excel, щелкните правой кнопкой мыши объект на слайде, наведите указатель мыши на связанный лист объект и выберите Изменить.

  • Чтобы обновить данные на слайде в соответствии с данными в исходном файле Excel, щелкните правой кнопкой мыши объект на слайде и выберите команду Обновить ссылку.

Вставка связанного выделения с листа

Чтобы вставить и связать выбранный фрагмент данных с сохраненного листа Excel, выполните следующие действия.

  1. В Excel откройте книгу, содержащую данные, которые нужно вставить.

  2. Выберите и скопируйте нужные данные.

    Сочетание клавиш    Чтобы скопировать данные, нажмите клавиши CTRL+C.

  3. В PowerPoint 2010 щелкните слайд, куда нужно вставить скопированные данные листа.

  4. На вкладке Главная в группе Буфер обмена щелкните стрелку под кнопкой Вставить и выберите Специальная вставка.

  5. В диалоговом окне Специальная вставка в разделе Как выберите объект Листа Microsoft Excel.

  6. Установите флажок Вставить ссылку и нажмите кнопку ОК.

Чтобы изменить выбор ячеек из связанного Excel листа, выполните одно из следующих действий:

  • To edit the data from within Excel, right-click the object on the slide, point to Linked Worksheet Object, and select Edit.

  • To update the data on the slide to match the data in the original Excel file, right-click the object on the slide, and click Update Link.

Копирование выделенного фрагмента ячеек на слайд

Чтобы скопировать выбранный фрагмент данных Excel на слайд PowerPoint, сделайте следующее:

Примечание: Данные, скопированные и вставленные на слайд PowerPoint, не обновляются автоматически при изменении данных в книге Excel. Сведения о связывании данных на слайде PowerPoint с исходным источником данных Excel см. в разделе «Вставка связанного фрагмента с листа» непосредственно выше.

  1. В Excel откройте книгу, содержащую сведения, которые нужно скопировать.

  2. Select and copy the data that you want.

    Сочетание клавиш    You can press CTRL+C to copy the data.

  3. In PowerPoint 2010, click the slide where you want to paste the copied worksheet data.

  4. На вкладке Главная в группе Буфер обмена щелкните стрелку под кнопкой Вставка.

  5. В разделе Параметры вставки выполните одно из следующих действий.

    1. Выберите Сохранить исходное форматирование , если вы хотите скопировать данные в виде PowerPoint таблицы, но сохранить внешний вид исходного листа Excel.

    2. Выберите Использовать стиль назначения, если вы хотите скопировать данные в виде таблицы PowerPoint, но хотите, чтобы она предполагала внешний вид презентации PowerPoint.

    3. Выберите Внедрить, чтобы скопировать данные в виде сведений, которые можно изменить в PowerPoint.

    4. Выберите Рисунок , если вы хотите скопировать данные как нередактируемый рисунок.

    5. Выберите Сохранить только текст , если вы хотите скопировать все данные в виде одного текстового поля.

См. также

Вставка содержимого из других приложений

Копирование диаграммы Excel в другую программу Office

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Linking Excel files to PowerPoint

If you regularly create PowerPoint presentations that include information from Excel, you will know how frustrating it can be.  Having to re-copy and re-paste the information every time a change is made in the original Excel documents.  Have you come across the feature which enables you to link your Excel workbook directly into your PowerPoint presentation? When you use this feature, the presentation changes automatically each time your workbook changes.  This is what we will be covering in this post.

Linking an Excel document to a PowerPoint presentation

The process of linking an Excel document to a PowerPoint presentation is pretty straightforward.  Simply copy a range from Excel (Home -> Copy in the Ribbon, or Ctrl+C as a shortcut).  Then, in PowerPoint click Home -> Paste -> Paste Special . . .

From the Paste Special window select Paste link, click Microsoft Excel Worksheet Object, then click OK.

Edit Powerpoint linked documents Paste Special

The pasted image will now be linked to Excel.  If the Excel file and PowerPoint presentation are both open any changes will update automatically.

Update and edit links

Once the links are created in the presentation, you may need to update them at a future point.  If the Excel file is not open it is possible to update links using the following methods.

Updating when opening the presentation

When opening a presentation, PowerPoint will ask if you wish to update the links.  Just click the Update Links button and the presentation will be updated with the latest information.

PowerPoint Update Links on Open

Updating on demand

If you just want to update a single linked image you can right-click the image, then select Update Link from the menu.

Powerpoint Right Click Update or Edit Link

This menu also gives you the option to Edit the link to the original document.

Update with the “edit links” option

On the ribbon click File -> Info -> Edit Links to Files (it’s in the bottom right corner).
File Info Edit Links Powerpoint

The Links window will open, which provides you with various options to update, edit and break links.

PowerPoint Links - Update and Change Source

My top tips

If you link Excel files to PowerPoint presentations often, you will soon find it doesn’t always behave how you might expect.  Here are my top tips to get the best results:

  1. Use named ranges.  Adding rows and columns in a worksheet will not change the link reference in PowerPoint.  For example, if PowerPoint is linked to Cell A1, then you inserted a new column at the start, Cell A1 would become Cell B1.   But, PowerPoint still references Cell A1. This would now be the wrong cell.  A named range helps to ensure the correct range is displayed in the presentation.
  2. PowerPoint updates links one at a time.  If you have 100 links to the same Excel workbook it will open the same Excel workbook 100 times, which can be very time consuming.  If you open the Excel document first the updating process is much faster.
  3. PowerPoint will not know if you change the name or file path of a linked file (see point 4 below for the exception).  You need to ensure the most up-to-date version of the Excel file always has the same file name and file path, so that PowerPoint can find it.
  4. The fastest method of changing the source of an Excel file is to have both the Excel and linked PowerPoint files open.  Then save the Excel file with a new path or file name.  In this circumstance, PowerPoint will update the reference to the file.

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About the author

Hey, I’m Mark, and I run Excel Off The Grid.

My parents tell me that at the age of 7 I declared I was going to become a qualified accountant. I was either psychic or had no imagination, as that is exactly what happened. However, it wasn’t until I was 35 that my journey really began.

In 2015, I started a new job, for which I was regularly working after 10pm. As a result, I rarely saw my children during the week. So, I started searching for the secrets to automating Excel. I discovered that by building a small number of simple tools, I could combine them together in different ways to automate nearly all my regular tasks. This meant I could work less hours (and I got pay raises!). Today, I teach these techniques to other professionals in our training program so they too can spend less time at work (and more time with their children and doing the things they love).


Do you need help adapting this post to your needs?

I’m guessing the examples in this post don’t exactly match your situation. We all use Excel differently, so it’s impossible to write a post that will meet everybody’s needs. By taking the time to understand the techniques and principles in this post (and elsewhere on this site), you should be able to adapt it to your needs.

But, if you’re still struggling you should:

  1. Read other blogs, or watch YouTube videos on the same topic. You will benefit much more by discovering your own solutions.
  2. Ask the ‘Excel Ninja’ in your office. It’s amazing what things other people know.
  3. Ask a question in a forum like Mr Excel, or the Microsoft Answers Community. Remember, the people on these forums are generally giving their time for free. So take care to craft your question, make sure it’s clear and concise.  List all the things you’ve tried, and provide screenshots, code segments and example workbooks.
  4. Use Excel Rescue, who are my consultancy partner. They help by providing solutions to smaller Excel problems.

What next?
Don’t go yet, there is plenty more to learn on Excel Off The Grid.  Check out the latest posts:

What happens when we want to combine each app’s strengths? When you’re ready to take your data and charts from Excel to PowerPoint, you have options. There are different ways to paste and link your data between these apps. 

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to embed or link an Excel file in PowerPoint. Soon, you’ll know how to embed Excel graphs and charts inside of a PowerPoint presentation. Embedding Excel into PowerPoint is a top skill in 2023, and you’ll find yourself doing it every day. 

We also have a useful complement to this tutorial. Quickly grab it before you read on. Download our FREE eBook: The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations, which will help you write, design, and deliver the perfect presentation. 

Making Great Presentations Free Guide DownloadMaking Great Presentations Free Guide DownloadMaking Great Presentations Free Guide Download

How to Embed Excel Files & Link Data into PowerPoint (Quick Video)

In this quick three minute screencast below, I’ll show you how to work back and forth between Excel and PowerPoint. You’ll learn to embed Excel files in PowerPoint, link your data between the two apps, and can keep your data up to date.

Read on to learn more about different methods for working with data between Excel and PowerPoint.

In this video, we used the now-discontinued Marketofy PowerPoint Template from GraphicRiver. When you need an embedded Excel in PPT, turn to the vast Envato Elements library for thousands of custom PowerPoint options. You’ll find template designs for all topics. 

How to Embed Excel Charts in PowerPoint

Imagine that we’ve built a great-looking Excel chart. It features plenty of data and a stylish design aesthetic. But Excel isn’t the best tool for sharing with an audience. It’s best to embed Excel in PowerPoint to present with.

Remember: Excel and PowerPoint are both part of the Microsoft Office suite of productivity apps. They work well together. You can finish styling the chart in PowerPoint.

But you might not be done making style changes. Fortunately, you’re in luck.

Simpleco embed Exel file in PowerPointSimpleco embed Exel file in PowerPointSimpleco embed Exel file in PowerPoint
Download the premium SIMPLECO PowerPoint template from Envato Elements today.

Throughout this tutorial, you’ll see the SIMPLECO PowerPoint template featured. It’s a robust premium design from Envato Elements. Download it today to follow along. 

The tips in this section were written using Windows and Office 365. If you’ve got a different operating system or a different version of the apps, your steps may be slightly different.

Start Embedding Excel Into PowerPoint

Now, let’s get started with the simplest way to make a PowerPoint embedded Excel. The first step is to click on your chart inside of Excel and make sure it’s selected. Then, you can press copy, either by pressing Ctrl + C on your keyboard or pressing the Copy button on Excel’s ribbon.

Embed Excel in PowerPointEmbed Excel in PowerPointEmbed Excel in PowerPoint

Select your chart in Excel, which puts those circles around the edge of the chart. Then, press copy (Ctrl + C) or copy on the ribbon to put the chart on your clipboard.

Now, let’s switch over to the SIMPLECO template, which is open in PowerPoint. Find some space on one of your slides. Then, press either Ctrl + V on your keyboard, or press the Paste button on PowerPoint’s ribbon. Below, you can see that the data and amounts match when you paste.

Embed Excel PowerPointEmbed Excel PowerPointEmbed Excel PowerPoint

You can embed Excel in PowerPoint by pasting charts from one app to the other.

Notice that it brought over the same data from our Excel workbook, but it reformatted the style to match the PPT presentation. These are the default options to take charts from Excel to PowerPoint.

This is the most basic way to place an Excel chart inside your PowerPoint file. But as always, there’s more power hidden behind the scenes in PowerPoint.

Excel to PowerPoint Paste Options Explained

Maybe you want to paste your chart as a picture that the viewer can’t edit. Or maybe you want to link your Excel chart to PowerPoint so that they update data and stay synced.

When you’re taking charts from Excel to PowerPoint, you really have two choices to make:

  1. How do you want to handle the data — should it be linked to an Excel workbook, or embedded right inside the PowerPoint file?
  2. Should the style of the chart stay the same, or should it match the rest of your presentation?

These options are all available when you Right-click inside PowerPoint with a chart on your clipboard. 

PowerPoint embedded ExcelPowerPoint embedded ExcelPowerPoint embedded Excel

The five paste options available in PowerPoint when you’re pasting data from Excel.

There are actually five ways that you can take data from Excel to PowerPoint, and each of them handles your data a bit differently. For your reference, here are the descriptions of each of the paste options in PowerPoint:

  1. Use Destination Theme and Embed Workbook
  2. Keep Source Formatting and Embed Workbook 
  3. Use Destination Theme and Link Data
  4. Keep Source Formatting and Link Data
  5. Paste as picture

I think of the major categories as embedding, linking, and pasting as a picture. Let’s learn about each of those categories.

1. Embed Excel Workbook in PowerPoint

The first two icons (1 and 2) allow you to embed data inside the PowerPoint file. This means that PowerPoint stores the data behind the scenes inside the PowerPoint file. 

Once you paste the file in and embed the workbook, the data is separated from the Excel file and stored inside the PowerPoint file.

If Excel’s data updates, the PowerPoint chart won’t update automatically.

Embedding Excel into PowerPointEmbedding Excel into PowerPointEmbedding Excel into PowerPoint

To update the data for an embedded chart, right-click the chart and choose Edit Data.

To update the data inside of an embedded Excel file, you can right-click the chart and choose Edit Data from the menu. This opens an embedded Excel spreadsheet inside the PowerPoint file where you can edit the data in the chart.

Embedded Excel in PPTEmbedded Excel in PPTEmbedded Excel in PPT

Editing data for an embedded chart will open up an Excel window inside of PowerPoint. Change this data to update the chart.

Embedding data has many advantages. The charts in your presentation work whether or not you’ve got access to the original Excel file. Embedding does increase the size of your PowerPoint file.

The major downside to embedding data is that it doesn’t stay synced to the Excel file that you’re doing analysis and data review inside of. If you’re going back and forth between the two apps, linking might be a better choice.

2. Link Excel Data to PowerPoint

Linking data (icons 3 and 4) keeps your PowerPoint and Excel file in sync. If you change the data for the chart in Excel, you can update the pasted chart in PowerPoint to use the latest data.

When PowerPoint and Excel are both open at the same time, this happens automatically for linked data. Make a change in Excel, and the linked PowerPoint chart updates in real time. 

If you’re working in Excel and PowerPoint at different times, you’ll want to update your data. Make sure to hit Refresh Data on the Chart Design tab on PowerPoint’s ribbon.

Embed Excel file in PowerPointEmbed Excel file in PowerPointEmbed Excel file in PowerPoint

Linked data updates in real time if both apps remain open. Or you can choose Refresh Data with the chart selected to refresh the data used in the linked chart.

Linking is great to keep the data connected so that you don’t have to keep rebuilding your charts as you move from Excel to PowerPoint. 

But linking your data directly to Excel isn’t always the right choice. The downside to using the linked option is two-fold:

  1. If you send your PowerPoint file to someone and they don’t have access to the Excel file, refreshing data won’t work.
  2. If others are changing the linked Excel file behind the scenes without your knowledge, you run the risk of updating your presentation with incorrect data.

If you’re still a bit fuzzy about choosing between embedding and linking data from Excel to PowerPoint, check out the official Microsoft help page to see a comparison of the two.

3. Paste Excel Chart as Picture in PowerPoint

The final option to place a chart in PowerPoint is to simply paste the chart you built in Excel as a flattened, non-editable picture.

When you paste a chart as a picture, the styles will appear the same as the Excel version of the chart and no longer be editable within PowerPoint.

Paste embedded Excel in PowerPointPaste embedded Excel in PowerPointPaste embedded Excel in PowerPoint

Pasting an Excel chart as a picture in PowerPoint treats the chart as a flat image and removes any editing options for the data inside of it.

This feature is handy when you want to ensure that the data isn’t changed or altered by the recipient. But pasting as a picture causes you to lose any ability to edit or change the chart.

Excel to PowerPoint Paste Formatting Options

Whether you choose to embed or link your data, you can choose how to handle the style of your charts when you move from Excel to PowerPoint. Both «embed» and «link» options have two choices for how to handle styling.

Let’s look at the difference between «Use Destination Theme» and «Keep Source Formatting.» These options don’t change the way we work with data—both options embed your data in the PowerPoint file—but they do change the appearance of the charts.

  1. Keep Source Formatting. Uses the same chart style used in Excel.
  2. Use Destination Theme. Matches the style of your chart to the PowerPoint theme.

In the screenshot below, you can see examples of each option. Using Keep Source Formatting kept the chart exactly the same as it appeared in Excel. Use Destination Theme helps your charts blend in with the rest of the presentation.

Format PowerPoint embedded ExcelFormat PowerPoint embedded ExcelFormat PowerPoint embedded Excel

«Keep Source Formatting» will carry the styles and formatting directly from Excel, while «Use Destination Theme» matches the chart to the rest of your PowerPoint presentation.

Once a chart is placed in the PowerPoint file, you can edit and restyle the presentation. Think of this paste option as the starting point.

We’ve learned about embedding Excel into PowerPoint. As you can see, linking the two apps is a seamless process. It helps you keep data and charts up to date to share with your audience. But sharing data can still seem daunting. What are some good rules of thumb? What do you need to do to succeed?

Read on for five of my favorite tips for effectively sharing data in PowerPoint. Embrace these ideas to succeed in 2023:

1. Opt for Colorful Styling

Bland, flat styles never inspired anyone. The trick is to use bright, colorful styles. You’ll enjoy several benefits when you do this. First, you’ll have shareable charts that are creative and engaging. You won’t bore your audience.

Pineapple embed Excel File in PowerPointPineapple embed Excel File in PowerPointPineapple embed Excel File in PowerPoint

The Pineapple — Fresh Fruit PowerPoint template from Envato Elements features bright and colorful styling.

Plus, the creative use of color helps add contrast. For example, if you’re sharing charts, you can make each data series a different color. This makes your PowerPoint embedded Excel much easier to read and understand.

2. Animate to Control the Pace and Flow

Data is best shared as part of a narrative flow. In other words, you don’t always want your audience to see it all at once. That’s especially true if you’re providing details along the way. Data without context is “information overload” and can quickly become confusing.

Using animations in PowerPoint is a great way to control the pace and flow of your data slides. You can present Excel-based data in a certain order, rather than all at once. 

Learn how with our full tutorial on PowerPoint’s Animation pane, the control center for slide animation:

3. Use Unconventional Charts and Infographics

Often, basic Excel charts and graphs work well for sharing your data. But sometimes, it pays to be creative. Unique infographics and charts help you share information in new and creative ways.

Stage infographic embedded Excel in PPTStage infographic embedded Excel in PPTStage infographic embedded Excel in PPT

This PPT deck features creative, unconventional charts and infographics.

Even PowerPoint’s built-in chart features are robust enough to craft new designs. Next time you’re linking data to Excel, try out a funnel, waterfall, or sunburst chart. These are tailor-made for custom data sharing. You can use them all when you’re embedding Excel into PowerPoint.

4. Expand Beyond Numerical Data

When you think of data, it’s easy to think of numbers. And of course, that’s likely the most common type of data. But you can use charts and graphics to share data that isn’t numerical. Remember: these are tools to share ideas.

For example, you can use a chart to introduce your team and explain your organization’s structure. It’s a good way to illustrate an idea that may be hard to explain with words alone. And of course, you can embed this right from Excel using PPT tables and more.

For a detailed look at org charts in PPT, view our tutorial now:

5. Be Specific with Design

Premium PowerPoint themes from Envato Elements are available for any subject. Many are well-suited for any topic with a few quick edits. But others are specific and intentional with their themes.

Orion embedded Excel in PowerPointOrion embedded Excel in PowerPointOrion embedded Excel in PowerPoint

A template like Orion is tailored for the shipping industry.

For example, you’ll find many PPT templates geared toward a specific industry. This extends to their layouts, themes, and your ability to embed data. Why not choose a custom, themed template for your next project? These templates look amazing, and they deliver design inspiration on every slide. 

Keep Learning More About Excel and PowerPoint

Keep in mind that there are different ways to manage your data based upon the paste option you use. On Envato Tuts+, we have a wealth of resources that help you master both apps!

Dig into more helpful Excel and PowerPoint tutorials on Envato Tuts+: 

Make Great Presentations (Free eBook Download)

Making Great Presentations Free Guide DownloadMaking Great Presentations Free Guide DownloadMaking Great Presentations Free Guide Download

We have the perfect compliment to this tutorial, which will walk you through the complete presentation process. Learn how to write your presentation, design it like a pro, and prepare it to present powerfully. 

Download our Book: The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations. It’s available for free with a subscription to the Tuts+ Business Newsletter. 

Now You Know How to Embed Excel in PowerPoint

Keeping your PowerPoint graphs linked to Excel data is handy. Embedded data gives you the flexibility to edit your data right inside the presentation. It comes down to how you want (or don’t want) to keep your data synced between Excel and PowerPoint.

With linked data, you don’t have to recreate and reformat your charts each time the original data changes. This embedded Excel in PPT approach ensures you won’t forget to make an update. Go practice it now with a presentation of your own!

Editor’s Note: This tutorial was first published in July of 2017. It’s been comprehensively updated for accuracy by Andrew Childress. 


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Linking Excel files to a PowerPoint presentation lets you to present and display complex data on a much simpler form that people can understand. This is very handy when you’re conducting business or academic presentations. What’s more is that it also allows you to easily create tables on presentations and conveniently modify the table’s data without editing the presentation itself.

  1. Image titled Link Excel to PowerPoint Step 1

    1

    Open the Excel file you wish to link with the PowerPoint presentation. Select Microsoft Excel from the Start menu to open it. Once you’ve launched Excel, you can either choose to open an existing Excel file or create a new one.

    • If you choose to create a new document to link to a PowerPoint presentation, you need to save it first as an Excel file before you can do any kind of linking.
  2. Image titled Link Excel to PowerPoint Step 2

    2

    Open the PowerPoint file you wish to have the Excel file linked to. Launch Microsoft PowerPoint by selecting it on from the start menu. Once it launches, you can either open an existing PowerPoint presentation or create a new one by clicking the File button on the upper-left corner of the menu bar.

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  1. Image titled Link Excel to PowerPoint Step 3

    1

    Choose where you want to insert the Excel file. On the PowerPoint presentation, click on the text field you want to insert an Excel file then click on the Insert tab on the upper-left section of the window to view the Insert toolbar.

  2. Image titled Link Excel to PowerPoint Step 4

    2

    Click on the Object button. This will open a small window called Insert Object.

  3. Image titled Link Excel to PowerPoint Step 5

    3

    Click on the “Create from file” radio button. This will allow you to insert an existing file to your PowerPoint presentation, in this case, the Excel document.

  4. Image titled Link Excel to PowerPoint Step 6

    4

    Select the file to insert. Still on the Insert Object window, click on the Browse button and use the Explorer to navigate to the location of the Excel file you want to link. Once you’ve found the file, select it and click Okay.

  5. Image titled Link Excel to PowerPoint Step 7

    5

    Check the Link option. Back on the Insert Object window, make sure that you check the Link option right beside the Browse button. By doing this, any changes made on the Excel file will be automatically reflected on the PowerPoint presentation.

    • Click on Okay to finish inserting the file.
    • The data table on your Excel file should now be displayed on the presentation slide. You can move it anywhere on the presentation and adjust its height and width by clicking and dragging its corner points across the slide.
  6. Image titled Link Excel to PowerPoint Step 8

    6

    Make sure that the link works. Go back to Microsoft Excel and change any data in any of the cells. Once you’ve edited one of the cells, go back again to PowerPoint. The data on the Excel object on your presentation should reflect the same changes you made on the Excel file.

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

  • You don’t need to save the Excel file first before the changes made are reflected on the presentation. The inserted object should mirror the change as you edit it.

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