2.  Microsoft Office makes it easy to share information between applications in the Office Suite.  Files from other applications can be linked and embedded into Word files.

3.  Difference between linked and embedded?  Link file updates when the original file has been changed  Embedded file does not change even when the original file changes

4.  If you refer to data in an Excel file or other applications in various Word documents and that data changes in Excel, you would have to remember to change it in all of the files that same information was contained in.  However, if the data is linked, when it changes in the original (source) Excel file, the Word files will update automatically – saves a tone of work and inaccurate data.

5.  Let’s make it simple.  Open a blank Word document. Type the following in the default font: Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.  Save the file as Sample 1.  Open a new blank PowerPoint presentation. On the Insert tab, under the Text grouping, click the drop-down arrow next to Object.

6.  Select Object.  Note you can do this one of two ways: by creating a new file or using an existing one.  Click on the Tab “Create from File” in the dialog box.  Click the Browse button and navigate to the Sample 1 document you just created.  BEFORE CLICKING OKAY, click the box “Link to File.”

7.  Clicking this one little box changes the file from an embedded file to a linked file.  Click Okay.  Save the Presentation as Linked Sample.pptx.  Close the Sample 1.docx.  Open a new blank PowerPoint presentation, insert an Object from an Existing File – THIS TIME, DO NOT CHECK THE LINKED BOX – Insert the Sample1.docx into this presentation file.  Save the Presentation as Embedded Sample.pptx.

8.  Open the Sample 1.docx.  Change as follows:  Font to bold, 36 pt, and Bondoni MT Black.  Save the Sample 1.docx.  Open the Linked Sample.pptx file you created.  Note that a dialog box opens asking if you want to update the file. Yes, you do want to update the file.  Note the changed formatting.  Open the Embedded Sample document. Note that it does not ask you if you want to update the file, and the contents on the slide do not change.

9.  You can now see the difference between linked files and embedded files.  Linked files change; embedded ones are merely imported into the document.

10.  Let’s practice:  Open a blank Excel workbook.  Insert the information into the workbook:

11.  Save the Excel workbook as Homeruns.  Open a new blank PowerPoint presentation.  Insert the Excel file as an embedded object in the Word document. (Simply do not check the Linked box.)  Save the PowerPoint presentation as Embedded Homeruns.pptx.  Open a blank PowerPoint presentation and insert the Excel Homeruns file as a linked file (remember to check the box).

12.  Save the file as Linked Homeruns.pptx.  Open the Excel file and add another game:  Vs. Thomasville  For Fred, 10; for Aaron, 11; for Brandon, 3; for Neil, 15; and for Michael 14.  Save the Excel file.

13.  Open the Embedded Homeruns.pptx.  Note it does not ask you to update the file. The Excel spreadsheet has been imported or embedded into the Word document and does not change.  Open the Linked Homeruns.pptx file. Note it asks if you would like to update the data. Tell it yes.  You should see “vs Thomasville” along with the homeruns the Trojan players hit against Thomasville.