Changing the Source Link in Microsoft Excel 2010

One file could be linked to one or more other files through formulae.  During the course of time, as these workbooks get updated / changed, there could be a need to change the links in these workbooks.  Changing the source link allows the user to change the location of the source where the data exists or to change the link to a new workbook altogether.

To change the source link you have to use the “Edit Links” option.  This option gives the user a view of all the other files the current file is linked to, so that the user can update or remove the links.

Let’s take an example and understand how we can change the source link.

Example 1: We have data in range A1:E9, which is linked to another workbook. To change the source link follow the below mentioned steps:-

• Select the cell A2 and press the keys “CTRL+Shift+Down key (arrow) +Right Key (arrow) to select the data.  Or press Ctrl + A to select all the data at once.

• Go to the “DATA” tab in the “CONNECTIONS” group and select Edit Links command.

• The “Edit Links” dialog box will appear.

• We have one link in this file. To change the source of the link, click on the “Change Source” button on the right side.

• When you click on “Change Source”, it allows you to choose another file.

• Choose the new file and click on ok.

• Click on Close.

Through the Edit links dialog box, you can also Update Values, Open Source, Break link, and also can check the current status of the link.

Even if you update anything in the linked file, this file will get updated automatically as long as the other file is open.  This is an useful feature which you can use while working with multiple workbooks which need to be linked together to pass the information from one to the other.