Microsoft Excel Online Can’t Embed Data From Other Workbooks

Rob Leon 🌴
Sep 3, 2018 · 2 min read

I am not sure how I missed this feature but I did.

It works in Google Sheets.

Anyhoo.

Here’s the deal.

On occasion when working in Microsoft Excel.

I reference data from other workbooks.

Enter collaboration.

I’m working on a project where we’re collaborating on a set of shared workbooks in Office 365 SharePoint Online.

It just so happens that these workbooks need to reference data in each other.

You would think a feature like this should work.

But it’s a little more complex to pull off then expected.

The problem exists because

Microsoft Excel Online
Microsoft Excel Desktop
Microsoft OneDrive
and Microsoft SharePoint Online

are missing some pieces to pull things together.

And so the whole thing gets jumbled up.

So now, I’m rethinking how we solve this challenge.

It is frustrating that a feature that I’ve used for so many years in a business local area network doesn’t work in the cloud the way I need to.

Myself and countless others hope that Microsoft figures this out.

It’s a pretty big deal that this functionality doesn’t work.

At least not the way people want it to work.

In the meantime, the workaround is to only reference data inside of the same workbook if we want to keep using Microsoft Excel Online and Microsoft Office SharePoint Online.

Or we could just use Google Sheets.

-1 Microsoft

+1 Google

#GETYOURTECHRIGHT

I share my experience and knowledge in the tech space to help make tech better in small business America. I give with no expectation of receiving. I really do — just want to help you get the tech right in your business.

Rob Leon 🌴

Written by

#GETYOURTECHRIGHT

I share my experience and knowledge in the tech space to help make tech better in small business America. I give with no expectation of receiving. I really do — just want to help you get the tech right in your business.

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