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Link a cell to a shape

Link a cell to a shape

Link a cell to a shape

(OP)
In a spreadsheet, I saw a rectangular shape  that contained 2 numbers, which was brougth them from two cell from that spreadsheet?
How can I do that?
When I hit right click on that shape and tried to "ungroup" it, a massage popped up that" you  can not do that, this is not a shape, this is a imported object"?!
Can somebody explain it?

Thanks

RE: Link a cell to a shape

Shahyar,

Here's two ways that you can link an object to data in a cell.

1.  When you place an Autoshape or Textbox in your worksheet, you can click your cursor on the formula bar at the top of the worksheet and enter a formula such as =A1.  This will display the contents of cell A1 as text in your object but the object is still recognized as an autoshape or text box.  As far as I know, you can directly link to only one cell using this method but then that one cell could have links of its own.

2.  You can highlight several cells, for example A1:A3, and copy them.  Then holding down your Shift button, click Edit on the menu bar, and select Paste Picture Link.  This creates a picture object and allows you to link (and display) multiple cells directly.

Of course, neither of these methods gives a message like you indicate so there must be other ways to do it.  It will be interesting to see what others may know about this.

RE: Link a cell to a shape

(OP)
Thanks, EGT01
That was the answer that I was looking for that.
But is a difference between those two ways:
In first way, if I change cell A1 content, The picture content will change accordingly, but in way two will not.
Am I right?

Thanks again

RE: Link a cell to a shape

Shahyar,

For the second method, you should have a choice to select either Paste Picture or Paste Picture Link, at least that is what I get in Excel 2002.  Paste Picture will not update data as data in the copied cells change.  However, Paste Picture Link is a dynamic link and will update as data in the cells change.

Unfortunately, I don't see a way to edit the link information in the Paste Picture Link.  I was hoping to see if others have a way to do this task especially since the messages you were getting are different from what I am seeing for the methods I suggested.  

I would like to find a method that would allow me to do more than just link to another cell.  For example, where I could say concatenate cells or perform math operations directly in the shape or object.

RE: Link a cell to a shape

(OP)
Thanks again.
I got it.

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