Linking Data in MS Excel – 2 Methods

How to link your data in excel

What if all your data could be linked across from one sheet to another?

You would never need multiple copies of the same data.

You’d also minimize the risk of incorrect data due to forgetting to update the information across sheets!

It is an excellent way to create a summary of up-to-date data.

This means people can collaborate easier at the office, which is why we learn it on our Excel courses.

Before we start, here is what a sheet of the source data in Excel looks like:

Shows the initial data sorce

Method 1 – Cell Formula Writing + Clicking

First, click the cell in the worksheet you want the data to appear in:

  • Type in the formula bar  “=”
  • Click on the information in the source worksheet you want to carry across
  • Press enter

The formula bar will show where the information has been linked to, the sheet name, an exclamation mark and the cell number:

Shows the reference with method 1

You can use this same method to reference named ranges from other sheets too.

excel-promo-1

Method 2 – Copy And Paste

Start on the source worksheet and copy the information you want to link

  • Right-click on the cell in the destination sheet and go to ‘Paste special’
  • Click on the ‘Data link’ icon. Interestingly, if you are used to opening up the paste special box, the link data option doesn’t appear in it.

Shows the specific paste link option

If you use this method, the cell is entered as an absolute cell reference.

Linking to Multiple Cells

You can also create a link to multiple sheets and cells to a single cell with a function.

In the example below, the total spent on communications for three years has been shown on the summary sheet:

Shows the multiple cell linking ref

To do this, you will use method 1 above but after clicking on the first total in 2010, press ‘+’ then click the next piece of data and so on.

About Ben Richardson

Ben is a director of Acuity Training which he has been running for over 10 years.


He is a Natural Sciences graduate from the University of Cambridge and a qualified accountant with the ICAEW.


He previously worked as a venture capitalist and banker and so had extensive experience with Excel from building financial models before moving to learn SQL, Microsoft Power BI and other technologies more recently.