LESSON 12 OF 16 · ABOUT 15 MINUTES
Link a value from another file
Create one deliberate external link between your two fictional practice files.
Download the source workbook (.xlsx)Open it alongside your working copy. Get the practice workbook if you need it.
Learn the skill
External links depend on another file and access to it. A displayed value can be cached rather than current.
Worked example
Use desktop Excel for this local-file exercise. Save both downloads in a practice folder. Do not use live workbooks.
With both files open, Summary!B6 can refer to Rates!B2 in excel-intermediate-source.xlsx.
Excel may show ='[excel-intermediate-source.xlsx]Rates'!$B$2 or a longer saved path. Do not type a guessed path.
Follow these steps
- Open copies of both files in desktop Excel. On the programme workbook’s Summary sheet, check that B5 contains 200.
- In B7, enter =B5*(1+B6) if the formula is missing. B7 will show the adjusted amount.
- In B6, type =. Switch to the source workbook, select B2 on the Rates sheet and press Enter. Check that B6 shows 10% and B7 shows £220.
- Check that the formula in B6 names your source file. In the source copy, change the rate to 12%. Check B6 shows 12% and B7 shows £224.
- Restore the source rate to 10%. Check B7 returns to £220, then save both practice copies.
Try it yourself
Close and reopen your destination practice copy. Inspect the source and explain what you would verify before refreshing any external link.
Check your practical result
- Only the provided synthetic source file is linked.
- You checked a known input change and restored it.
- You can identify the source file and cell from the formula.
This is your own review, not an automatic inspection of Excel.
If it does not work
Do not enable unknown links, alter security settings or upload files to a work account for this exercise. Excel for the web needs supported online files; do not upload these for this lesson. If local-file linking is unavailable or blocked, read the example and continue with the same-workbook version.
Optional knowledge check
This check is for practice. It is not saved or required to continue.
Continue whenever you are ready. No test or recorded score is required.
Course guide and Microsoft help
Download the whole course guide (.txt)Steps primarily use Microsoft 365 desktop Excel for Windows. Other versions can differ. Formulas use English names and commas; your region may use semicolons. Work only on the fictional practice copies.
Microsoft: Create a workbook link (opens in a new tab). Guidance checked 4 November 2026.
Browser knowledge checks do not execute Excel. This programme does not change your saved progress in other courses.