How to Link Excel to PowerPoint
Linking content between Excel and PowerPoint is easy, just follow these steps:
Linking details for PowerPoint
How to Link Text
- Select Excel text source from the drop-downs
- Insert or select a text-based shape. It can be linked to most shapes containing text, including: title, subtitle, textbox, shape, content placeholder, Word Art, etc.
- Select Shape
- Link the Shape to the Excel item by clicking "Add/Update Link"
How to Link Images
- Select Excel image source from the drop-downs
- To insert the image, de-select shapes (click in empty space on the slide) Or change the link of an existing image.
- Link the Shape to the Excel item by clicking "Add/Update Link"
- Updating images uses a larger amount of data, link charts to tables when possible
How to Link an Excel Table to a PowerPoint Table
- Add or select a table. You could insert a new table, copy an existing one, or paste a range from Excel (with source or destination format). The table size (row and column counts should be approximately the same as the Excel source table/range and is listed above the select shape button. You can format the table any way you'd like
- Select table
- LInk the Shape to the Excel item by clicking "Add/Update Link"
How to Link an Excel Table to a PowerPoint Chart
- Add or select a chart. You could insert a new chart, copy an existing one, or paste a chart from Excel (with source or destination format). You can format the chart any way you'd like.
- Select the chart
- LInk the Shape to the Excel item by clicking "Add/Update Link"
How to Check Linked Content
As you Add/Update Links in PowerPoint you can check to make sure the Shape Link has an Excel Match by choosing “List all Linked Shapes” on the Link page of the add-in.
If items are not properly matched when PowerPoint is updated a table with Update Results Details will appear on the “Update” tab that shows what Excel Source content was not matched to the correct shape in Power. There will also be a message at the bottom of the add-in that the document has been “Updated, but with Warnings.”
* Details on the Legacy Linking Method (Alt-Text-based) can be found here. The above listed method is the preferred easier method to use, but the Legacy method continues to be available.