How to Link Excel to PowerPoint

Linking content between Excel and PowerPoint is easy, just follow these steps:

Improved method to link content between Excel and PowerPoint

 

Linking Details for PowerPoint

How to Link Text

  1. Select Excel text source from the drop-downs
  2. 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.
  3. Select Shape
  4. Link the Shape to the Excel item by clicking "Add/Update Link"

How to Link Images

  1. Select Excel image source from the drop-downs
  2. To insert the image, de-select shapes (click in empty space on the slide)  Or change the link of an existing image.
  3. Link the Shape to the Excel item by clicking "Add/Update Link"
  4. Updating images uses a larger amount of data, link charts to tables when possible

How to Link an Excel Table to a PowerPoint Table

  1. 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
  2. Select table
  3. LInk the Shape to the Excel item by clicking "Add/Update Link"

How to Link an Excel Table to a PowerPoint Chart

  1. 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. 
  2. Select the chart
  3. 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.

How to list all linked shapes in the Excel-to-Word Document Automation 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.