Excel is not a word processor, so if you wish, for instance, to provide users with detailed documentation of an Excel application or want to add detailed explanatory information below a table or chart, inserting a Word document into Excel is the way to go.
Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) is the Microsoft technology that enables you to insert a Word document into Excel.
Object Linking and Embedding (OLE)
OLE in Excel enables you to:
- Insert or embed a copy of a Word document into Excel. The embedded document becomes part of the Excel file. If you send the Excel file to a user, they can view the embedded document without needing access to the original file.
The embedded Word document does not update automatically. If you make any changes to the source document in Word, you must manually update the embedded document in Excel. This is useful in situations where you do not frequently update the information in the original Word document.
- Create a link in Excel to a Word document. Linking creates a dynamic connection between the Word document in Excel and the source document in Word. The source document does not become part of the Excel file. Any changes you make in the source Word document are automatically reflected in the destination Excel file.
You link a Word document when you frequently update the information in the source Word document.
In this tutorial, I will show you five ways to insert a Word document in Excel by embedding or linking it.
Also read: How to Insert an Excel file into MS Word?
Method #1: Embed an Existing Word Document in Excel and Show the File’s Contents
Suppose you have the table below in a worksheet and want to insert or embed below the table a Word document named ‘Computer Specs.docx.’
You want the inserted document to show the contents of the first page.
Here’s how to do it:
- Select a cell in the area where you want to embed the Word file. In this case, we select cell A13.
- Open the Insert tab, and click ‘Object’ on the Text group.
- On the ‘Object’ dialog box that appears, open the ‘Create from File’ tab, and click ‘Browse.’
- Navigate to where ‘Computer Specs.docx’ is stored, select the file, and click ‘Insert.’
- Click OK on the ‘Object’ dialog box.
The above step inserts the Word document below the table and shows the first page of the document, as shown below:
Note: You can resize the embedded file using the resizing handles and drag and drop it anywhere on the worksheet. Double-click the page to open the Word document for editing or viewing.
Method #2: Link an Existing Word Document and Show the File’s Contents
To link a Word file in Excel and show its contents rather than embed it, do the following:
- Follow steps 1 to 4 in Method #1.
- Check ‘Link to file’ on the ‘Object’ dialog box and click OK.
- On the ‘Microsoft Excel Security Notice’ dialog box that appears, click ‘Paste everything.’
Note: If you click ‘Paste without active content’ Excel will link a blank Word file.
The above steps insert the contents of the source Word file into Excel and create a link to the source Word file.
Any changes you make in the source Word file are automatically reflected in Excel.
Method #3: Embed an Existing Word Document in Excel and Display it as an Icon
Use the steps below to insert an icon into the worksheet instead of showing the Word file’s contents:
- Follow steps 1 to 4 in Method #1.
- On the ‘Object’ dialog box, check the ‘Display as icon’ option, and click OK.
The above step displays the embedded Word document as an icon below the table, as shown below:
Note: You can drag and drop the icon anywhere on the worksheet and resize it using the resizing handles. Double-click the icon to open the source Word document for viewing or editing.
Also read: How to Convert PDF to Excel without Software?
Method #4: Create a New Word File and Embed it or Link it in Excel
Sometimes, you may not have an existing Word document to insert in Excel, but you want to create one on the fly.
Suppose you have the table below in a worksheet and want to create a new Word file and insert or embed it below it.
Here’s how to do it:
- Select a cell in the area where you want to embed the Word file. In this case, we select cell A13.
- Open the Insert tab, and click ‘Object’ on the Text group.
- On the ‘Object’ dialog box, open the ‘Create New’ tab, scroll down the ‘Object type’ list box, and select ‘Microsoft Word Document.’
- Click OK.
Note: Check the ‘Display as icon’ option on the right of the ‘Object type’ list box if you want Excel to insert the new Word document and display it as an icon.
The above steps open a new blank Word document.
- Type in the new document the information you want to insert or copy it from another source such as the internet.
- Close the Word file.
The above steps insert the newly created Word document in Excel.
Note: These steps do not create a new Word document on your computer but insert the new document directly into Excel.
Method #5: Embed a Word Document in Excel Using the Paste Special Dialog Box
You can also embed a Word file in Excel using the ‘Paste Special’ dialog box using the steps below.
- Select and copy the information you want to embed in Excel from a Word file.
- On the Home tab, click the ‘Paste’ button on the ‘Clipboard’ group and select the ‘Paste Special’ option.
Alternatively, you can press CTRL + ALT + V.
- On the ‘Paste Special’ dialog box, ensure that ‘Microsoft Word Document’ is selected on the ‘As’ list box and click OK.
The above step inserts the Word document in the Excel file and shows the document’s first page.
To insert the document and display an icon, check the ‘Display as icon’ option on the right side of the list box.
Select the ‘Paste link’ option on the left side of the list box to insert a link rather than embed the document.
In this tutorial, I have shown you five ways to insert a Word document in Excel. I hope you found the tutorial helpful.
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