Maximize Excel: Linked Workbooks
Presented by David H. Ringstrom, CPA
 
Event Date/Time: 3/26/25 12:00 PM Eastern
Duration: 100 minutes
 

In this presentation, author and Excel expert David H. Ringstrom, CPA, will guide participants through various topics related to workbook links in Excel. He will cover how to confirm if a file has links, as well as demonstrate the process of creating a workbook link. Attendees will also learn about the linked workbook security warning and how to find links within a workbook. Additionally, David will provide insights on breaking workbook links and introduce a helpful tool for removing workbook links efficiently. Other topics include the SUMIF function and the nuanced relationship it has with linked workbooks. You'll also learn how to use Power Query as a far more effective alternative to workbook link formulas.

David is the author of “Microsoft Excel 365 for Dummies”, “Exploring Microsoft Excel’s Hidden Treasures”, and has written or co-authored six other books. He demonstrates every technique at least twice: first, on a PowerPoint slide with numbered steps, and second, in the subscription-based Excel for Microsoft 365. David draws your attention to any differences in Excel 2021, 2019 or 2016 during the presentation and in his detailed handouts. The handouts include an Excel workbook with most of the examples he uses during his demonstrations.

Excel for Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based product that receives periodic feature updates. Conversely, perpetually licensed versions have year numbers in their names and do not receive any feature updates.

Who should attend: Professionals seeking to use Microsoft Excel more effectively.

Topics typically covered:

• Managing prompts that appear when you open a workbook that contains links.

• Discovering the capabilities of the SUMPRODUCT function for calculating payroll and other amounts.

• Employing the SUMIF function to sum values related to multiple instances of criteria you specify.

• Learning which functions to avoid when creating workbook links.

• Learning how to use SUMPRODUCT as an alternative to SUMIF or SUMIFS for retrieving numerical data from external workbooks.

• Creating flexible workbook links that can be copied down columns or across rows.

• Changing the data path in Power Query to a different workbook source.

• Using Power Query as an better alternative to workbook links.

• Using the Break Links command to remove links to other workbooks.

• Determining at a glance whether a spreadsheet contains links to other workbooks.

• Learning the most efficient way to link Word documents and Excel spreadsheets.

• Controlling whether linked workbooks update automatically or not as well as suppress unwanted prompts.

Learning objectives:

• Identify methods for creating and managing workbook links to maintain data consistency across multiple files.

• Describe strategies for troubleshooting and resolving issues related to broken or problematic workbook links.

• Compare traditional workbook links with Power Query alternatives to determine the most effective approach for different scenarios.

Level: Basic

Instructional Method: Group Internet-based

NASBA Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge (2 hours)

Program Prerequisites: None

Advanced Preparation: None