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Insert an Excel chart in a Word document
The simplest way to insert a chart from an Excel spreadsheet into your Word document is to use the copy and paste commands.
You can change the chart, update it, and redesign it without ever leaving Word. If you change the data in Excel, you can automatically refresh the chart in Word.
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In Excel, select the chart, and then press Ctrl+C or go to Home > Copy.
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In your Word document, click or tap where you want the chart to appear, and press Ctrl+V or go to Home > Paste.
Note:The chart is linked to the original Excel spreadsheet. If data in the spreadsheet changes, the chart updates automatically.
Update a chart
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In Word, select the chart.
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Go to Chart Design or Chart Tools Design > Data > Refresh Data.
You can change the design or data for a chart in Word.
Note:You can't edit a chart that was inserted as a picture, but you can adjust it. Select the chart, and then on Picture Format or Picture Tools Format, choose an option.
Edit a chart in Word
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Select the chart.
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Go to Chart Design or Chart Tools Design > Data > Edit Data and choose one of the following:
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Choose Edit Data to edit the chart in Word.
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Choose Edit Data in Excel.
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You also can modify the chart in Word by using any of the four buttons that appear when you select the chart.
The buttons are:
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Layout Options
Choose how your object interacts with the text around it. -
Chart Elements
Add, remove, or change chart elements such as the title, legend, gridlines, and data labels. -
Chart Styles
Set a style and color scheme for your chart. -
Chart Filters
Edit what data points and names are visible in your chart.Select any button to view available options.
There are five options for pasting an Excel chart into Word. Two options embed a copy of the whole workbook, another two keep the chart linked to the original workbook instead of embedding it, and one converts the chart into a picture. If none of those options do exactly what you want, you also can select Paste Special.
From Excel
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In Excel, select the chart you want to paste into Word, and then press Ctrl+C or go to Home > Copy.
In Word
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In Word, select Home, and in the Paste list, choose one of the five Paste Options.
Note:Hover over a button to read a description of the option.
| Paste option | Color theme | Data refresh |
|---|---|---|
| Use Destination Theme & Embed Workbook | Matches the Word theme | Embeds a copy of the Excel workbook with the chart. The chart doesn’t stay linked to the original workbook. To update the chart automatically, change the data in the embedded workbook. |
| Keep Source Formatting & Embed Workbook | Keeps the Excel theme | Embeds a copy of the Excel workbook with the chart. The chart doesn’t stay linked to the original workbook. To update the chart automatically, change the data in the embedded workbook. |
| Use Destination Theme & Link Data This is the default paste option (Ctrl+V). | Matches the Word theme | Keeps the chart linked to the original workbook. To update the chart automatically, change the data in the original workbook. You also can select Chart Tools > Design > Refresh Data. |
| Keep Source Formatting & Link Data | Keeps the Excel theme | Keeps the chart linked to the original workbook. To update the chart automatically, change the data in the original workbook. You also can select Chart Tools> Design > Refresh Data. |
| Picture | Becomes a picture | You can’t update the data or edit the chart, but you can adjust the chart’s appearance. Under Picture Tools, select Format. |
The main differences between linked objects and embedded objects are where the data is stored and how you update the data after it's inserted in the Word document.
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Linked object
Information from a object that is linked in Word is stored in the source file and can be updated if the source file is modified. Use linked objects if file size is a consideration. -
Embedded object
Information from an Excel object that you embed in Word doesn't change if you modify the source Excel file. Once embedded, the object is no longer part of the source file and won't reflect any changes made.
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Go to Insert > Text > Object.
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Go to Create from file > Browse, and locate the file you want to insert in the Word document.
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Choose one of the following:
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To add the file as a linked object, select Link to file, and then select OK.
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To add the file as an embedded object, select Display as icon, and then select OK.
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