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How Do You Connect a Chart in PowerPoint?

Published in Connect Chart PowerPoint 2 mins read

You connect a chart in PowerPoint, specifically from an external source like Excel, by linking it using the Special Paste feature. This method creates a connection so that changes in the source file are reflected in your presentation.

Here's how to link a chart from Excel into your PowerPoint presentation using the Special Paste method, as described in the provided reference:

Steps to Link an Excel Chart in PowerPoint

Connecting an Excel chart via linking ensures that your PowerPoint slide displays the most up-to-date data whenever the source Excel file is modified. Follow these steps:

  1. Copy the Chart from Excel: First, open your Excel workbook, select the chart you want to connect, and copy it (Ctrl+C or Cmd+C).
  2. Prepare Your PowerPoint Slide:
    • Open the PowerPoint presentation where you want to insert the chart.
    • Select the specific slide you want to insert the chart into.
  3. Access Special Paste: On the Home tab in PowerPoint, locate the "Paste" button group. Click the arrow located directly below the Paste button.
  4. Choose Special Paste: From the options that appear in the dropdown menu, click Special Paste.
  5. Select Paste Link: In the Special Paste dialog box that opens, select the Paste Link option. This is crucial for establishing the connection to the source file.
  6. Choose Object Type: In the same dialog box, under the "As" section, select the appropriate object type. Based on the reference, you should select Microsoft Excel Worksheet Object or Microsoft Excel chart Object if you copied just the chart itself.
  7. Confirm: Click OK to insert the linked chart onto your slide.

Why Link a Chart?

Linking a chart using Special Paste is useful when:

  • The source data in Excel is frequently updated.
  • You need the chart in PowerPoint to automatically reflect those updates without manual re-insertion.
  • You want to keep the PowerPoint file size smaller, as it references the external Excel file rather than embedding all the data.

By following these steps, you create a connection between your PowerPoint slide and the original Excel chart, allowing for dynamic updates.