Microsoft Office 365 Excel Online is a powerful tool for creating and managing spreadsheets. One of its useful features is the ability to reference data from one workbook to another. This can be particularly handy when you want to consolidate information from multiple workbooks into a single workbook or when you want to use data from one workbook in calculations or formulas in another workbook.
In this article, we will walk you through the steps to reference a workbook from a separate workbook in Office 365 Excel Online. Even if you are new to Excel, don't worry! We will explain everything in a beginner-friendly manner.
Step 1: Open both workbooks
First, open the workbook that you want to reference data from. Then, open the workbook where you want to insert the reference. Make sure both workbooks are open in separate tabs or windows within Excel Online.
Step 2: Select the cell to insert the reference
In the workbook where you want to insert the reference, select the cell where you want the referenced data to appear. This is the cell that will display the data from the other workbook.
Step 3: Start the reference formula
In the selected cell, type an equals sign (=) to start the formula. This tells Excel Online that you want to insert a formula or reference.
Step 4: Switch to the other workbook
Now, switch to the other workbook that contains the data you want to reference. Click on the tab or window of that workbook to bring it to the front.
Step 5: Select the data to reference
In the other workbook, select the range of cells that you want to reference. You can click and drag to select a range, or you can hold down the Shift key and use the arrow keys to extend the selection.
Step 6: Copy the reference formula
With the range of cells selected, press Ctrl+C on your keyboard or right-click and choose "Copy" to copy the selected cells.
Step 7: Return to the original workbook
Switch back to the original workbook where you want to insert the reference. Click on the tab or window of that workbook to bring it to the front.
Step 8: Paste the reference formula
In the selected cell, press Ctrl+V on your keyboard or right-click and choose "Paste" to paste the reference formula. The referenced data will now appear in the selected cell.
Step 9: Update the reference if necessary
If you make changes to the data in the other workbook, the referenced data in the original workbook will not update automatically. To update the reference, simply select the cell with the reference formula and press Enter on your keyboard. The referenced data will be updated to reflect the changes in the other workbook.
That's it! You have successfully referenced a workbook from a separate workbook in Office 365 Excel Online. Now you can easily consolidate data or use data from one workbook in calculations or formulas in another workbook.
References
| Reference | Link |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Office Support | https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office |
| Excel Easy | https://www.excel-easy.com/ |
| Microsoft 365 Blog | https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/ |