When you work with Excel, it’s often useful to pull in data from other sources. These may include other spreadsheets, databases, text files, and more. Fortunately, this is easy to do, and saves you the effort of retyping existing data. Let’s learn how to get external data in Microsoft Excel.
How to Get External Data in Excel
External data may take a variety of forms and exist online, or in storage on your computer. Excel’s Data features offer you an easy way to import and access this data, so that you can use it in new spreadsheets. Imagine, for example, that you want to pull in data from another spreadsheet or HTML file.
To get external data in Microsoft Excel, begin by opening a new spreadsheet file, or one that you’re working in already. Then, find the Data tab. This sits on Excel’s ribbon, the list of tabs and menu options across the top of your screen.
On the far left side of the Data tab, you’ll see the Get External Data dropdown menu. Click on it, and you’ll see a list of three options: From HTML, From Text, and New Database Query.From HTML lets you open data found in HTML files, along with Excel and .CSV files. From Text handles data contained within text files. And New Database Query lets you open data contained in databases or SQL servers.
To open an existing spreadsheet and pull data from it, click on From HTML. A Browse window will open. Find your file containing the other data, then click Open. The file will launch. Pull in the data by using cell references, or simply by copying and pasting it over to your working spreadsheet.
As you can see, it’s easy to get external data in Microsoft Excel. This lets you pull data from a variety of sources, with no need to retype or repeat work.
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