Leveraging Linked Workbooks in Excel
Author: David H. Ringstrom
| CPE Credit: |
2 hours for CPAs |
When you participate in this course, you’ll learn from Excel expert David Ringstrom, CPA, the pros and cons of workbook links and how to create and work with them. Because workbook links allow you to connect one Excel spreadsheet to other spreadsheets, Word documents, databases, and even web pages, they are quite beneficial. David covers such topics as how to dramatically improve the integrity of linked workbooks, copy links across rows or down columns, and repair broken links.
David demonstrates every technique at least twice: first, on a PowerPoint slide with numbered steps, and second, in the subscription-based Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) version of Excel. David draws your attention to any differences in the older versions of Excel (2021, 2019, 2016 and earlier) during the course as well as in his detailed handouts. David also provides an Excel workbook that includes most of the examples he uses during the course.
Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based product that provides new feature updates as often as monthly. Conversely, the perpetual licensed versions of Excel have feature sets that don't change. Perpetual licensed versions have year numbers, such as Excel 2021, Excel 2019, and so on.
Publication Date: June 2023
Designed For
Practitioners seeking to learn about Excel workbook links and improve the integrity of their linked workbooks.
Topics Covered
- Automating spreadsheet updates by utilizing the From Text feature to connect to comma-separated value files
- Controlling whether linked workbooks update automatically or not as well as suppress unwanted prompts
- Creating flexible workbook links that can be copied down columns or across rows
- Discovering a free tool you can use to locate even the most buried workbook links
- Eliminating the risk of workbook links by using Microsoft Query to get data from one workbook into another
- Employing the SUMIF function to sum values related to multiple instances of criteria you specify
- Learning how to arrange two workbooks on-screen at the same time for ease of use in creating linked formulas or comparing data
- Learning how to arrange two worksheets from within the same workbook on-screen and at the same time
- Learning how to break links to other workbooks and data sources
- Learning how to repair broken workbook links
- Learning the most efficient way to link Word documents and Excel spreadsheets
- Learning the risks of linked workbooks, determining if a workbook contains links, and seeing how links can hide within Excel features
Learning Objectives
- Describe how to link Excel workbooks to other sources
- Identify how to minimize the data-integrity risks that can arise from workbook links
- Identify and take control of security prompts and settings related to linked workbooks
Level
Intermediate
Instructional Method
Self-Study
NASBA Field of Study
Computer Software & Applications (2 hours)
Program Prerequisites
Experience Working with Excel Spreadsheets.
Advance Preparation
None
