Is there a way to make a workbook link to an entire table in Excel Web?

R0502 20 Reputation points
2025-08-08T14:46:46.2266667+00:00

Hi!

Is there a way to link to a specific table in a different online workbook using workbook links? I've been testing the formula below on a duplicate of our current rota, to take our messy admin side of things to an easier view for the staff:

=TEXTBEFORE(Gastro[#All},"-",,Gastro[#All])

While it works if the table is in the same workbook, if I try and link to the table in another workbook (which we would need to do, as the simplified view would have to be on a separate book to share with staff without sharing all the admin sheets too!) it just creates an absolute reference to the cell range instead. I really need to be able to link to the entire table, as we will need to add or remove rows with staff changes, which happen very frequently!

TIA :)

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For business | Other
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Answer accepted by question author
  1. Vy Nguyen 7,840 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2025-08-08T16:05:38.1866667+00:00

    Hi @R0502

    Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum and sharing your experience.   

    I understand you're working on simplifying your rota for staff visibility while keeping administrative data separate. That’s a thoughtful and practical approach, and I’m happy to help guide you through it. 

    Currently, Excel for the Web does not support dynamic linking to an entire table in a different workbook. When you try to reference a table from another workbook, Excel converts it into a static cell range. This means that any changes like adding or removing rows, won’t automatically reflect in the linked workbook. 

    Go to: Microsoft 365 Feedback Hub →Send Feedback→ Describe your proposal in detail   

    User's image

    Your feedback is important, Microsoft actively monitors user input to prioritize improvements. The more feedback they receive on this issue, the more likely it is to be addressed.   

    In the meantime, I’d like to offer a few step-by-step alternatives that may suit your situation: 

    1. If you have access to Excel Desktop, this method allows dynamic linking: 

    • Open Excel Desktop. 
    • Go to the destination workbook where you want the table to appear. 
    • Click on the Data tab, then select Get Data > From Workbook. 
    • Choose the source workbook and select the table you want to link. 
    • Load the table into your sheet. It will now update whenever the source table changes. 
    • Click Refresh on the Data tab to pull in the latest changes. 

    This method keeps your staff-facing workbook updated without exposing admin sheets. 

    2. If you're using Microsoft 365 and Excel for the Web: 

    • Create a script or flow that copies the table from the source workbook to the destination workbook. 
    • Set it to run on a schedule or when changes are made. 
    • This keeps your staff view updated automatically. 

    We can help you set this up if needed, just let us know! 

    3. If automation isn’t an option: 

    • In the source workbook, define a named range for the table. 
    • In the destination workbook, use a formula to reference that named range. 
    • Periodically update the destination workbook manually. 

    While this doesn’t auto-update with row changes, it’s a simple way to manage visibility.   

    Please let me know which option works best for you, or if you'd like help setting up a script or automation. We're here to support you every step of the way. 

    Thank you again for your patience and for choosing Microsoft Q&A forum. Please let me know if there’s anything else I can assist you with. I’m here to support you every step of the way.


    If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment”.    

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    1 person found this answer helpful.

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