This article explains how to link data in a Microsoft Excel workbook with multiple sheets together. Linking dynamically extracts data from one sheet and relates it to that of another. The update of the destination sheet occurs automatically at each modification of the source sheet.
Steps
Step 1. Open a Microsoft Excel workbook
The Excel icon appears as a white and green "X".
Step 2. Click on the destination sheet by selecting it from the tabs that identify the sheets
At the bottom of the Excel screen you can see the complete list. Click on the sheet you want to link.
Step 3. Click on an empty cell of the destination sheet
It will be your target cell. The data contained in the cell, once linked to that of another sheet, will be automatically synchronized and updated every time a change occurs in the source cell.
Step 4. Type = in the cell
This mark introduces a formula into the target cell.
Step 5. Click on the source sheet by selecting it from the tabs that identify the sheets
Locate the sheet you want to extract data from, then click the tab to open the workbook.
Step 6. Check the formula bar
This displays the target cell value at the top of the Excel screen. When you switch to the source sheet, it should display the name of the active sheet, preceded by an “equal” sign and followed by an exclamation point.
Alternatively, you can manually enter the formula in its bar. It should look like this: =!, where "" stands for the name of the source sheet.
Step 7. Click on a cell of the source sheet
It will be your cell of origin. It can be empty or already contain data. When you link the data, the target cell is automatically updated based on the source cell.
If, for example, you want to extract data from cell D12 of Sheet1, the formula is the following: = Sheet1! D12.
Step 8. Click on the Enter key on your keyboard
This way you apply the formula and return to the target sheet. The target cell is now linked to the source cell and the data is dynamically linked together. When you change the source cell, the destination cell is automatically updated as well.
Step 9. Click on the target cell
The cell is thus highlighted.
Step 10. Click and drag the square icon in the upper right corner of the target cell
The range of the linked cells between the source sheet and the destination sheet is thus extended and the adjacent cells of the source sheet are also linked.
