This is the 2nd part of my series on how to link a PowerPoint presentation to an Excel worksheet, in this tutorial I will run through how to link a table in PowerPoint to one that you have built in Excel.

If you are going directly to this tutorial I highly recommend that you check on the 1st part of this tutorial by clicking here, I run through the basics on linking within PowerPoint. It’s a long read but worthwhile!

Step 1 - Building and formatting your Table

It makes sense when you are building your linked table that the values within your Excel worksheet are not hard coded. Keeping your table and the raw data separate will help you so that there is only one sheet that needs updating (the raw data sheet) and all the VLOOKUP’s, SUMIF’s and formatting can be performed on the table sheet, click here for an example of a table sheet based on a data sheet.

Create your table and format it appropriately, I have done this already on example available above.

Make sure you zoom is setup to 100% at all times otherwise there will be discrepancies between the table in Excel and in PowerPoint, also make sure all formatting is done in Excel as all the formatting will flow through to the PowerPoint presentation!

Step 1 - Format your Table in Excel

Step 2 - Creating the link

Before continuing open up a blank PowerPoint presentation and then switch back to the Excel worksheet where your formatted table is, select all the cells which the encompasses the table and press CTRL+C (Copy).

Step 2 - Copy your Excel Table

Now, switch back to your PowerPoint presentation and then click on Edit > Paste Special option to open up the Paste Special As… dialog box.

Step 3 - Paste Special As

You want to setup your Paste Special menu so that you are pasting a Paste Link As Microsoft Office Excel Worksheet Object (exactly as the screen shot below) then click OK.

Step 4 - Paste Special As Options...

The presentation now looks like this:

Step 5 - Paste Complete

After some cleaning up of the  text placeholders you should have exactly the table you created in your Excel worksheet but linked to your PowerPoint presentation.

Step 6 - Complete

Any updating of your Excel worksheet related to formatting and raw data should flow directly through to your PowerPoint presentation - simple!

Points to Remember!

  • Make sure your zoom factor on both your Excel Worksheet and PowerPoint presentation are set to 100%
  • Make sure you review how to update your links (found in my previous post)
  • Double clicking on the object in PowerPoint will directly open up the Excel worksheet where the object resides.

Stay tuned for the the next part of this series on how to link a chart from Excel to PowerPoint!

If you any questions or suggestions please comment.

Enjoy!