Pasting a Link Using Paste Special (Creating External References)

Here's how to paste a link in Excel, focusing on creating external reference links to cell content.

There are several ways to create "links" in Excel, but if you want to link the content of cells so that they automatically update when the source changes, the most common method involves using Paste Special and the Paste Link option.

This method is ideal when you want the value in a cell (or range of cells) to automatically reflect the value of a cell in another location, which could be another sheet in the same workbook or even a different workbook entirely.

Here's the straightforward process:

1. Copy the cell or range of cells you want to link from.
2. Navigate to the sheet and cell where you want to paste the link.
3. On the Home tab in the ribbon, click the small arrow below the Paste button.
4. Select Paste Special.
5. In the Paste Special dialog box, click Paste Link.

As the reference states: Go to Home Paste Paste Special. Select Paste Link. Excel creates an external reference link for the cell or each cell in the cell range.

This action doesn't paste the original value directly; instead, it inserts a formula that points back to the source cell. For example, if you link to cell A1 on Sheet1 from Sheet2, the destination cell on Sheet2 will contain a formula like =Sheet1!A1. If the source is in another workbook, the formula will include the workbook name and path.

Benefits of Using Paste Link

• Automatic Updates: The linked cell's value automatically updates whenever the original source cell's value changes.
• Data Consistency: Ensures data stays synchronized between different locations.
• Efficiency: Saves you from manually copying and pasting updated information repeatedly.

Other Ways to Create "Links" in Excel

While Paste Link is for connecting cell content, Excel also handles other types of links:

• Hyperlinks: These allow you to create clickable text that jumps to a web page, a file, another location within the same workbook, or even an email address. You can insert a hyperlink by right-clicking a cell and selecting "Link" or going to the Insert tab and clicking Link.
• Simple Cell References: You can manually create a link within the same workbook by typing = followed by the cell address (e.g., =A5). This creates a formula that displays the content of the referenced cell, similar to Paste Link but typically used for simpler links within the same sheet or workbook.

Choosing the right "linking" method depends on your goal: connecting cell content for automatic updates (Paste Link or cell references) or creating clickable navigation (Hyperlinks). For linking cell content from different sources, Paste Special > Paste Link is a powerful and common method as described in the reference.