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Insert an object in your Excel

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Excel for Microsoft 365, Excel 2021, Excel 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2010, Excel 2007
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You can use Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) to include content from other programs, such as Word or
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Excel.

OLE is supported by many different programs, and OLE is used to make content that is created in one
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program available in another program. For example, you can insert an Office Word document in an Office productivity apps
Excel workbook. To see what types of content that you can insert, click Object in the Text group on the
Insert tab. Only programs that are installed on your computer and that support OLE objects appear in the
Click to get it
Object type box.

An introduction to linked and embedded objects 

Newer versions Office 2010 – 2013 Office 2007

Embed an object in a worksheet

1. Click inside the cell of the spreadsheet where you want to insert the object.

2. On the Insert tab, in the Text group, click Object .

3. In the Object dialog box, click the Create from File tab.

4. Click Browse, and select the file you want to insert.

5. If you want to insert an icon into the spreadsheet instead of show the contents of the file, select the
Display as icon check box. If you don’t select any check boxes, Excel shows the first page of the file.
In both cases, the complete file opens with a double click. Click OK.

Note: After you add the icon or file, you can drag and drop it anywhere on the worksheet. You can
also resize the icon or file by using the resizing handles. To find the handles, click the file or icon one
time.

Insert a link to a file

You might want to just add a link to the object rather than fully embedding it. You can do that if your
workbook and the object you want to add are both stored on a SharePoint site, a shared network drive, or a
similar location, and if the location of the files will remain the same. This is handy if the linked object
undergoes changes because the link always opens the most up-to-date document.

Note: If you move the linked file to another location, the link won’t work anymore.

1. Click inside the cell of the spreadsheet where you want to insert the object.

2. On the Insert tab, in the Text group, click Object .

3. Click the Create from File tab.

4. Click Browse, and then select the file you want to link.

5. Select the Link to file check box, and click OK.

Create a new object from inside Excel

You can create an entirely new object based on another program without leaving your workbook. For
example, if you want to add a more detailed explanation to your chart or table, you can create an embedded
document, such as a Word or PowerPoint file, in Excel. You can either set your object to be displayed right in
a worksheet or add an icon that opens the file.

1. Click inside the cell of the spreadsheet where you want to insert the object.

2. On the Insert tab, in the Text group, click Object .

3. On the Create New tab, select the type of object you want to insert from the list presented. If you
want to insert an icon into the spreadsheet instead of the object itself, select the Display as icon
check box.

4. Click OK. Depending on the type of file you are inserting, either a new program window opens or an
editing window appears within Excel.

5. Create the new object you want to insert.

When you’re done, if Excel opened a new program window in which you created the object, you can
work directly within it.

When you’re done with your work in the window, you can do other tasks without saving the
embedded object. When you close the workbook your new objects will be saved automatically.

Note: After you add the object, you can drag and drop it anywhere on your Excel worksheet. You can
also resize the object by using the resizing handles. To find the handles, click the object one time.

Need more help?

You can always ask an expert in the Excel Tech Community or get support in the Answers community.

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