Microsoft Excel 2010 - Level 3
© Watsonia Publishing Page 74 Data Linking
LINKING BETWEEN WORKBOOKS
Continue using the previous
file with this exercise, or open
the file E837 Linking_2.xlsx...
Press + to create a
new workbook
Enter the headings as shown,
then click on A5 and type =
Click on the View tab of the
Ribbon, click on Switch
Windows and select 2
E837 Linking_2.xls
Click on the Year2010
worksheet tab and click on
B8
Click on A5 and examine the
formula
We need to make the cell
reference relative so we can
fill the formula to other cells...
Double-click on $B$8 in the
formula bar, type B8 and
press
Click on A5 then drag the fill
handle to copy the formula
across to D5
Click on the Home tab and
click on Comma Style to
format the numbers
For Your Reference…
To link between workbooks:
1. Type as much of the formula as is required
before the linked cell reference
2. Switch to the other workbook and click on
the cell(s)
3. Press or continue with the formula
Handy to Know…
Links to cells in other workbooks are
automatically absolute (i.e. displayed with $
signs). This means that if you copy the
formula, the column and row references will
remain unchanged. You must remove the
dollar signs first if you want to fill the formula
to other cells.
Linking between workbooks involves the same
basic steps as linking between worksheets within
a workbook. In addition, the linking formula must
be very specific so that Excel can find the file that
you want to link to. If the workbook resides in
another folder, the formula must include the full
path to the workbook file. Workbook names need to
be enclosed in square brackets.
The linked reference contains the file and worksheet name,
plus the cell reference ($B$8) as an absolute reference…