Part IV: Managing and Analyzing Data
Pasting links
Pasting links provides another way to create external reference formulas. This method is
applicable when you want to create formulas that simply reference other cells rather than
use links as part of a larger formula. Follow these steps:
- Open the source workbook.
- Select the cell or range that you want to link, and then copy it to the
Clipboard. Ctrl+C is the quickest way.
- Activate the dependent workbook, and select the cell in which you want the link
formula to appear. If you’re pasting a copied range, just select the upper-left cell.
- Choose Home ➪ Clipboard ➪ Paste ➪ Paste Link (N).
Working with External Reference Formulas
This section discusses some key points that you need to know when working with links.
Understanding these details can help prevent some common errors.
Creating links to unsaved workbooks
Excel enables you to create link formulas to unsaved workbooks (and even to nonexistent
workbooks). Assume that you have two workbooks open (Book1 and Book2) and you haven’t
saved either of them. If you create a link formula to Book1 in Book2 and then save Book2,
Excel displays a confirmation dialog box like the one shown in Figure 28.1.
FIGURE 28.1
This confirmation message indicates that the workbook you’re saving contains references to
a workbook that you haven’t yet saved.
Typically, you don’t want to save a workbook that has links to an unsaved document. To
avoid this prompt, save the source workbook first.
You can also create links to documents that don’t exist. You may want to do so if you’ll be
using a source workbook from a colleague but the file hasn’t yet arrived. When you enter an
external reference formula that refers to a nonexistent workbook, Excel displays its Update
