File Sharing Problems

How to Create Friendly Links to SharePoint Files From Word and Excel

Bushra Parveen Oct 10, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to know if there is a way in Word or Excel to create friendly hyperlinks that open specific worksheets, cells, pages, or bookmarks within SharePoint documents.

How to Create Friendly Links to SharePoint Files From Word and Excel

Product: Word and Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating hyperlinks that point directly to targeted content (like a specific cell or bookmark) within a SharePoint-hosted file.
Observed behavior: There is no built-in feature that perfectly supports creating these specific deep links out of the box, requiring workarounds like VBA or third-party add-ins.

Before you start

Before proceeding, ensure you have basic familiarity with VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) and have the necessary permissions to run macros or install add-ins in your software environment.

Solution 1Recommended

Use VBA Scripts to Create Custom Deep Links

Since there is no built-in feature to create deep links to specific cells or bookmarks in SharePoint files, using VBA is the most effective workaround.

VBA can be used to construct URLs that append specific anchor tags (like cell references or bookmark names) to the end of a SharePoint file path.

Open the VBA Editor

Press ALT + F11 in Word or Excel to open the Visual Basic for Applications Editor.

Insert a New Module

Click 'Insert' from the top menu and select 'Module' to create a blank workspace for your script.

Write the Link Script

Write or paste a VBA macro designed to append the specific cell reference (e.g., '#Sheet1!A1') or bookmark name to your SharePoint URL and trigger the default browser to open it.

Assign to a Clickable Object

Return to your document, insert a shape or button, right-click it, and select 'Assign Macro' to connect your new VBA script. This object will now act as your friendly clickable link.

VBA Support Resources: If you need specific VBA code examples for your exact SharePoint environment, posting your requirements on Stack Overflow using the 'VBA' tag is highly recommended.

Solution 2

Explore Third-Party Office Add-ins

If you prefer not to write and maintain VBA code, a third-party add-in from the Office Store might provide the advanced hyperlinking features you need.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Document Management

While complex SharePoint deep linking might require custom VBA in Microsoft Office, WPS Office offers a lightweight, free alternative with excellent hyperlink and bookmark management. It provides a familiar interface and robust tools to structure your documents efficiently.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) and Word (.docx) formats.Easily insert bookmarks and standard hyperlinks across your documents.Lightweight installation with an intuitive, familiar user interface.Completely free to use for daily document editing and spreadsheet management.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I link directly to a specific cell in an Excel file hosted on SharePoint?

By default, standard SharePoint links open the workbook at the default view but do not jump to a specific cell. You must append the sheet and cell reference (e.g., ?activeCell=%27Sheet1%27!A1) to the URL or use VBA to force the navigation.

How do I link to a specific page or bookmark in a Word document on SharePoint?

You can sometimes append '#BookmarkName' to the end of the SharePoint document URL. However, ensuring this works consistently across different web browsers and client applications often requires custom macro solutions or specific add-ins.

Why doesn't the standard 'Insert Hyperlink' feature work for deep linking in SharePoint?

The built-in hyperlink tool is primarily designed for standard web URLs and local file paths. SharePoint's web-based document rendering handles URLs differently, which can strip or ignore standard anchor tags unless they are specifically formatted for the SharePoint environment.

Document & File Issues