Securely Link an Excel Configurator to an External Price Matrix in WPS Office
Question details
The user wants to connect an Excel configurator to a separate price matrix without exposing confidential pricing data.
- Product
- WPS Office Spreadsheets
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A pricing configurator must read a separate price matrix while keeping the underlying prices available only to authorized users.
- Observed behavior
- External workbook links can update configurator values, but they do not provide strong protection by themselves and may allow determined users to inspect the source data.
Confirm that the price matrix is stored in a separate workbook or secure online service and that you have edit permission for the configurator workbook.
Store the Price Matrix in an Access-Controlled Workbook and Link It to the Configurator
Use this approach when the price matrix can remain a separate workbook and you need normal configurator users to calculate prices without accessing the full pricing sheet.
External references read live values from a source workbook, but the source file must be protected by the storage platform or file permissions—not by cell formulas.
Place the price matrix in its own workbook on a network folder, SharePoint/OneDrive library, or other access-controlled storage. Grant read access only to users who should see the full price table.
Launch WPS Office Spreadsheets and open the Excel configurator workbook. Click the cell where the price result should appear.
Type =, switch to the price matrix workbook, click the cell containing the relevant price, then press Enter. WPS creates an external reference such as ='[PriceMatrix.xlsx]Sheet1'!$B$2.
Save the configurator. When prompted about external links, allow automatic update or click Data > Update Links so the configurator pulls current prices.
Open the configurator with a user account that does not have direct access to the source price folder. Confirm that formulas calculate but the price workbook itself is blocked.
Use a Secure Online Service or Application for Highly Confidential Pricing
Use this when pricing is highly confidential, shared across teams, or you cannot grant users read access to the source workbook.
Link and Protect an External Price Matrix with WPS Office Spreadsheets
Open your Excel configurator in WPS Office, keep the price matrix in an access-controlled separate workbook, and use external references so users see calculated prices without exposing the confidential source sheet.
- 1. Download WPS Office free: Download WPS Office from the official WPS site, install it, and launch WPS Spreadsheets.
- 2. Open the Excel configurator: Click Menu > Open, choose the configurator workbook, and enable external link updating when prompted.
- 3. Place the price matrix in an access-controlled location: Move the price matrix to a separate workbook in a protected folder or cloud library and grant read access only to authorized staff.
- 4. Create the external reference: In the configurator, click the price result cell, type =, switch to the price matrix workbook, and click the source price cell.
- 5. Save and verify: Save the configurator and test with a standard user to ensure formulas calculate without granting access to the full price workbook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I protect an external price matrix by hiding the source sheet?
No. Hidden sheets and workbook passwords are not strong security. Store the price matrix in an access-controlled separate workbook or secure online service instead.
Do users need access to the source workbook for external links to update?
Yes, external links generally require users to have at least read access to the source workbook. If that is not acceptable, use a secure pricing service or API that exposes only the needed value.
Does WPS Office support external workbook references in Excel files?
Yes. Open the configurator in WPS Office Spreadsheets, select the target cell, type =, switch to the source workbook, and click the source cell to create an external reference.
Can I put the price matrix on a hidden sheet in the same workbook?
No. Hidden sheets can be unhidden easily and do not protect confidential pricing. Keep the matrix in a separate workbook with restricted access.
What is the safest way to link a configurator to pricing data?
Store the price matrix in an access-controlled workbook or secure online service, grant only the minimum required permissions, and link only the specific price cells or lookup values needed by the configurator.
