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How to Insert a Document Into Another in Word
Insert text or data from another document without using cut-and-paste
By James Marshall James Marshall Writer James Marshall is a pro journalist who covers technology and computer troubleshooting. He is also skilled with Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, and other word processors. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on November 21, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email MS Office Word Excel Powerpoint Outlook What to Know
Insert a document within Word by going to Insert > Object > Text from File. Select a file and choose Insert.Insert a portion of a document by going to Insert > Object > Text from File and selecting a file. Adjust Range to choose a portion. A common method to insert text into a Microsoft Word document is to cut and paste it. This works well for short pieces of text. When you want to insert an entire document or a lengthy section of a document, there's a quicker solution than the cut-and-paste method. Instructions in this article apply to Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, and Word 2010. Add Another Document to a Word Document
Word can add an entire document into your work in a few quick steps. Position the cursor where you want to insert the document. Go to the Insert tab. In the Text group, select the Object drop-down arrow. Select Text from File. In the Insert File dialog box, select a document file. Choose Insert. The document is inserted, beginning at the cursor location. Add a Portion of a Document to a Word Document
If you don't want to add the entire contents of the file into your Word document, choose which parts of the document or worksheet that you want to insert. Place the cursor where you want to insert the text. Select Insert > Object > Text from File. In the Insert File dialog box, select a document file. Select Range. In the Set Range dialog box, enter the bookmark name from the Word document, or the range of cells from the Excel worksheet. Select OK. In the Insert File dialog box, select Insert. The portion of the document is inserted, beginning at the cursor location. Insert a Linked Text in a Document
If the text from the document you're inserting might change, use linked text that can be updated easily. The linked text option offers a third method to insert a document that updates the document automatically if the original changes. Position the cursor where you want to insert the link to the document. Go to the Insert tab. Select the Object drop-down arrow. Choose Object. In the Object dialog box, go to the Create from File tab, then select Browse. In the Browse dialog box, choose the file to insert, then select Insert. In the Object dialog box, select Display as icon to display the inserted file as a clickable icon, rather than display the first page of the file. Select OK to insert the linked file How to Update Linked Text
Because linked data is stored in the source file, linked objects can be updated if the source is changed. If the text changes in the original document, select the linked text object (the entire text of the insert will be selected), then press F9. This checks the original and updates the inserted text with the changes made to the original. Only linked text can be updated. Because embedded objects become part of the Word file, these objects are not connected to the source file and do not update. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Insert a PDF Into Word How to Merge Two or More Microsoft Word Documents How to Insert a Document in Word How to Hyperlink in Word Documents How to Insert Source Code Into a Word Document How to Insert Comments in Word How to Embed Excel Files in Word Documents How to Add Line Numbers to a MS Word Document How to Add and Remove a Border From a Word Document How to Use Linked Text to Update Word Docs How to Use Microsoft Word The 4 Best Free Text Editors for Windows & Mac How to Convert Excel to Word How to Insert a Page Break in Word How to Use Text Boxes in Microsoft Word How to Insert a Page in Word Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies