Creating hyper links to shared files with Microsoft Excel.

We're all familiar with hyper links on Web pages, we usually simply refer to them as links. This tutorial covers the steps to create hyper linkks to shared files or folders within your MS Excel spreadsheet using MS Excel 2000 and 2003.

Definition -
A hyperlink includes the path information to another object. The object in this case is a file on a shared drive. A point on the document is turned into an active spot which includes the path information pointing to the desired location. Once the hyper link is created within a cell, it becomes an active link. Clicking on the cell, or pressing Enter will open the hyper linked file.
Note: Hyper links can be created in all MS office programs including Excel, Outlook and Word, although each application uses slightly different steps to create a hyper link.
This tutorial covers the steps used in MS Excel 2000 through to 2003.
Click here if you're looking for the hyper linking with MS Word tutorial.

We can create hyper links to other files and documents located on our hard drive or a shared drive. These hyper links can point to a wide variety of files including Word documents, Excel and Powerpoint files, and even audio or video files. The person viewing the Excel Workbook must have access to the file/location to which the hyper link is pointing.

Sometimes in a work environment, you will want to create a spreadsheet containing a link to a shared folder or specific file or URL. This is often true when more than one person is working on a particular file.

    Here's how it's done:
  1. With an Excel workbook open, move to the cell where you want to create the hyper link.
  2. Access the Insert menu from the menu bar.
    You can find the Insert menu on the Menu Bar or move to it directly by using Alt I.
  3. Arrow upp to the menu item called Insert hyper link and press Enter.
  4. You will be presented with several options. Use the Tab key to move to the button titled "browse for file", and press spacebar.
  5. Tab to the option titled, "file of type" and then arrow up to "the menu item called, "all files".
  6. Now Tab to the "look in " page, and arrow down to the pparent folder of the desired file.
  7. Tab to the list view containing the folders and files found in the parent folder.
  8. arrow down to the desired file name and then press Enter.
  9. Tab to the "ok " button and press Enter.

Note: If your file does not appear in the list view, you will want to go back and ensure that "all files" is selected in the "files of type" page Tab.

Note: To create a hyper link to a given Web page or URL, simply include the exact URL of the Web page in the desired cell. yes, it's that easy! Return to the Tutorials page.