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How to insert a Word document into Excel

December 10, 2021
20.8K Views

In today's digital age, we often find ourselves juggling between different tools to fulfill various tasks. Excel excels in managing data and creating tables, while Word is our go-to for creating and formatting textual documents. But what if you need to merge these two worlds? If you're like me, you prefer using Word for content creation but also require Excel's analytical capabilities. This guide will show you how to seamlessly integrate Word documents into Excel, empowering you to have the best of both worlds.

Part1: How to Insert a Word Document into Excel

1. Open the table in Excel and select the cell where we want to insert the Word document.

2. Click the Insert tab and the Object button. Then the Insert Object dialog will pop up.

3. In the dialog, choose Create from file.

4. Click the Browse button, select the Word document we want to insert, and click Open.

5. Check Link to file and Display as icon, and click OK. Then, we can see that the Word document has been inserted.

6. We can double-click the icon to open the Word document.

(Note: Changes to the source file will be reflected in our document.)

Part2: How to Insert a Link to a File

Inserting a link to a file in an Excel spreadsheet is a straightforward process. Follow these steps:

1. Select Cell: Open the spreadsheet where you want to insert the link and choose the cell or text where you want to add the link.

2. Insert Hyperlink: Right-click on the selected cell or text. From the context menu, choose "Hyperlink." Alternatively, you can also press Ctrl + K on your keyboard.

Insert a link in Excel



3. Specify Link Type: In the "Insert Hyperlink" dialog box that appears:

4. Link to: Choose "Existing File or Web Page."

5. Look in: Click the "Browse" button to navigate to the location of the file you want to link to.

Inserting a link in Excel



6. Select File: Locate and select the file you want to link to. Once you've set up the link details, click the "OK" button.

7. Test the Link: Now, when you click on the cell or text you've linked, it will open the linked file.

Doc link inserted in Excel



8. Save: Don't forget to save your Excel spreadsheet to preserve the inserted link.

This process is particularly useful for creating navigational aids within your Excel file, allowing you to quickly access related documents or files.

Part3: How to Create a Word Document from Inside Excel

Creating a Word document from inside Excel is possible using VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) macros. Follow these steps to achieve this:

1. Enable Developer Tab: If the Developer tab is not visible in the Excel ribbon, you'll need to enable it. Go to Excel Options > Customize Ribbon and check the "Developer" option.

Create a Word Document from Inside Excel



2. Open Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) Editor: Click on the Developer tab and then click on "Visual Basic" to open the VBA Editor.

VBA in Excel



3. Insert a New Module: In the VBA Editor, click on "Insert" and then choose "Module" to insert a new module.

VBA new module in Excel



4. Write VBA Code: In the module, you can write the VBA code to create a Word document. Here's an example code snippet to get you started:

Sub CreateWordDocument()

   Dim objWordApp As Object

   Dim objWordDoc As Object

   ' Create a new instance of Word application

   Set objWordApp = CreateObject("Word.Application")

   objWordApp.Visible = True ' Show the Word application

   ' Create a new Word document

   Set objWordDoc = objWordApp.Documents.Add

   ' Add content to the document

   objWordDoc.Range.Text = "Hello, this is content from Excel."

   ' Save the document

   objWordDoc.SaveAs "C:\Path\to\your\document.docx"

   ' Close the Word document and application

   objWordDoc.Close

   objWordApp.Quit

   ' Release the object references

   Set objWordDoc = Nothing

   Set objWordApp = Nothing

End Sub

VBA code in Excel



5. Run the Macro: Close the VBA Editor and return to your Excel workbook. Run the macro by pressing Alt + F8 to open the "Macro" dialog, select "CreateWordDocument," and click "Run."

Run VBA code in Excel



6. Word Document Creation: The macro will create a new Word document, add content to it, save it to the specified location, and then close both the document and Word application.

Inserted word doc in Excel



Please note that using VBA macros requires a basic understanding of programming concepts and Excel's VBA environment. Be cautious when running macros, especially from unknown sources, as they can affect your files and system.

Part4: How to Edit Excel, Word, PowerPoint for Free?

WPS Office is a comprehensive and free office suite that enables users to effortlessly open, create, edit, and save Microsoft Office files, including Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations. Its full compatibility with both Windows and Mac platforms makes it a versatile choice for various tasks.

Steps to Edit Excel, Word, and PowerPoint in WPS:

1. Download and Install WPS Office:

  • Visit the official WPS Office website (https://www.wps.com/) to download the software.

  • Choose the version suitable for your operating system (Windows or Mac).

  • Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

2. Launch WPS Office:

  • Once installed, open WPS Office from your desktop or application launcher.

3. Open an Existing File:

  • Click on the relevant application icon (Writer for Word, Spreadsheets for Excel, Presentation for PowerPoint).

  • In the application, navigate to "File" in the top menu.

  • Select "Open" and browse to the location of your Microsoft Office file.

4. Edit the Document:

  • The WPS Office interface is similar to Microsoft Office, offering familiar tools and features.

  • Edit your document as needed, make changes, format text, and add images or charts.

5. Save the Changes:

  • After editing, go to "File" again.

  • Choose "Save" to save your changes to the existing file or "Save As" to create a new version.

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FAQs about Inserting Word Documents into Excel

Q1: Can I embed other content in Microsoft Excel?

Yes, Microsoft Excel provides Object Linking & Embedding (OLE) functionality that allows you to embed various types of content. To explore available options, navigate to the "Insert" tab, and within the "Text" section, click on "Object." This will display a list of applications that can be linked or embedded in your Excel sheet.

Q2: Can I insert a Word document into Excel using copy-and-pasting?

Yes, you can copy content from a Word document and paste it directly into an Excel cell. However, this method might encounter formatting issues due to differences in how Excel and Word handle formatting. While simple text might transfer smoothly, more complex formatting, images, and tables may not translate accurately, requiring additional adjustments.

Steps to Copy and Paste from Word to Excel:

  1. Open your Word document.

  2. Select the content you want to copy.

  3. Right-click and choose "Copy" or press Ctrl + C.

  4. Open your Excel worksheet.

  5. Select the cell where you want to paste the content.

  6. Right-click and choose "Paste" or press Ctrl + V.

Formatting Problems: Keep in mind that copy-and-pasting can lead to formatting challenges, such as altered font styles, alignment, and image placement. You might need to manually adjust formatting within Excel to achieve the desired appearance.

Q3: What should I do with the security warning?

If you encounter a security warning when embedding or linking files in Excel, it's a precautionary measure to ensure that the linked or embedded content doesn't contain harmful elements. Depending on your familiarity with the source of the document, you can choose to enable or disable the content. Exercise caution when enabling content from untrusted sources to avoid potential security risks. If you trust the source and need to proceed, you can click "Enable Content" or "Allow" based on the warning message displayed.

Conclusion: Seamlessly Integrating Word Documents into Excel with WPS Office

In conclusion, the process of integrating Word documents into Excel offers a spectrum of methods to suit diverse user preferences. Whether through embedding as objects, hyperlinking, or leveraging Excel's Text Import Wizard, users can effectively merge textual content with data analysis, enhancing their workflow and document management capabilities.

Among these methods, WPS Office emerges as a standout solution. This free and versatile office suite empowers users to seamlessly open, create, edit, and save Microsoft Office files, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents. With its compatibility across Windows and Mac platforms, WPS Office provides an efficient means of realizing the benefits of both Word and Excel within a unified interface.


15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.