Users can easily add their spreadsheet data to Google Docs with a few simple steps. Additionally, Google Docs automatically detect the changes made to the original table.
Are you preparing a report in Google Docs?
Sometimes, users may wish to display a table or chart from Google Sheets to Google Docs.
It’s very simple to do!
Let us quickly discuss how to insert Google Sheet into Google Doc in this article. It contains useful tips about importing datasets from Google spreadsheet to Google Docs, so make sure to read the article till the end.
We will discuss two things in this article, as mentioned below. Click on the links to jump to that particular section.
Download the Example Google Sheet and Google Doc
Before we dive deep into the steps to insert tables and charts from Google Sheets to Google Docs, consider downloading the example files and following me as we move down the article.
- Google Sheets – Click Here
- Google Docs – Click Here
The above files contain example datasets we used to demonstrate inserting Google Sheets into Google Docs.
How to Insert Google Sheets into Google Doc
Google Docs is the best tool for preparing in-depth and eye-catching reports. In comparison, Google Sheets is a perfect tool to organize huge datasets and generate charts and graphs to summarize them.
Both have their own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to managing and representing data.
But what if you could combine the abilities of both?
It could help you prepare complex and dynamic reports that will surely impress your boss.
Here’s how you can do it.
SCENARIO #1 – Inserting a Google Sheets table in Google Docs
Let us start with the most common scenario where people wish to insert a table from Google Sheets to Google Docs.
The steps are as follows,
- Open the Google Sheet including the table you wish to import to Google Docs
- Select the table range as shown below
(Make sure to include important columns only because Google Docs has limited width.) - Now, press “CTRL + C” on your keyboard or go to the main menu and click on the “Edit” tab followed by the “Copy” option
(Main Menu > Edit > Copy) - Next, open a new Google Doc by clicking here
- Use the keyboard shortcut “CTRL + V” or go to the main menu and click on the “Edit” tab followed by “Paste”
(Main Menu > Edit > Paste) - A new dialog box will appear, as shown below
- Make sure the radio button before the “Link to spreadsheet” option is ticked
- Click on the “Paste” button in the blue
Here’s what our table in Google Docs looks like,
The entire process hardly takes 2-3 minutes to complete. Next time onwards, you can easily sync the data between Google Sheets and Google Docs with just one click.
Note that if you choose the second option, “Paste unlinked”, the table will be pasted with its original formatting, but the connection between Google Sheets and Google Docs will not be established.
In other words, you will get the table from Google Sheets to Google Docs but won’t be able to update it.
How to update table in Google Docs
Users can automatically update tables in Google Docs if something is changed in the original tables from Google Sheets.
If they had to manually update the tables every time (day, week, or month), it could be really time-consuming.
Whenever you edit the original table or even adjust the formatting, you will notice an “Update” button on the top-rightmost corner of the table in Google Docs. Refer to the following image.
Use that button to fetch the latest data. It is pretty simple!
How to edit table range in Google Docs
When you add new rows or columns to the table, make sure to adjust the table range in Google Docs manually.
This is because the table range is fixed. If anything changes within that table range, you can simply use the “Update” button that appears at the upper-rightmost corner of the table in Google Docs.
In contrast, a new row or column is not automatically updated within Google Docs.
Here are the steps to edit the table range in Google Docs,
- Open the Google Sheet that contains the original table
- Select the table range which you need to insert into Google Docs
- Go to the upper-leftmost corner of the screen and click on the “Name box“
- Using the keyboard shortcut “CTRL + C“, copy the table range displayed in the Name box
- Open the Google Docs where the table is inserted
- Next, click anywhere in the Google Docs Table
- You will notice three dots on the upper-rightmost corner of the table
- Click on it to see more options
- Select the “Change range” option from the popup
- A new dialog box will appear, as shown below
- Now, you need to replace the part after the exclamation mark (“!”), as shown in the following image
- Once you select the table range part after the exclamation mark (“!”), press “CTRL + V” on your keyboard to paste the table range we copied in step 4
- Press the “OK” button in the blue
The Google Docs table will be updated instantly, as shown in the above GIF.
PRECAUTIONS
If you have added several Google Accounts to your browser, then sometimes you may notice that the “Paste table” popup doesn’t appear.
It is due to the fact that your Google Sheets and Google Docs are using different Google accounts.
To check which account your Google Sheets or Docs is using, hover to the top-rightmost corner of the screen, and you will see the profile icon. Click on it to check the Google account.
Simply put, users must ensure to use the same Google account to create, insert, and sync tables between Google Sheets and Google Docs.
SCENARIO #2 – Inserting a chart or graph from Google Sheets to Google Docs
Google Sheets allows you to create dynamic graphs such as monthly sales, orders, and more. Whenever you put values for a month, the graphs are automatically updated.
Now, you can use those dynamic charts and graphs within Google Docs. Users can insert almost everything from flowcharts to candlestick charts.
It is a pretty straightforward process that doesn’t require expert knowledge.
Here are the steps,
- Once you have created a chart, make sure to name your Google Sheet properly
- Open a new Google Doc by clicking here
- Hover to the main menu and click on the “Insert” tab
- Select “Chart” from the popup
- Now, click on the “From Sheets” option
- A new dialog box will open, as shown below. Here, you can see all the Google Sheets stored on your Google Drive
- Select the sheet that contains the chart
(Make sure to use the Search bar in case you don’t find the Google Sheet you are looking for) - Click on the “Select” button
- One more dialog box will appear, as shown in the following image
- If your spreadsheet contains multiple charts, then those all will be listed here. For now, our spreadsheet includes only one chart, as shown above
- Select the chart
- Make sure the box before “Link to spreadsheet” has been ticked
- Click on the “Import” button
Google Sheets will instantly insert the chart within the Google Docs, as shown in the above GIF.
Note that the chart inserted above is dynamic, and it auto-updates with one click.
How to update a chart in Google Docs
Whenever the original graph from Google Sheets is updated, you will see an “Update” appear at the upper-rightmost corner of the chart in Google Docs.
PRECAUTIONS
It is pretty straightforward to insert a chart or graph in Google Docs.
But, you must ensure to tick the box before the “Link to spreadsheet” option before pressing the “Import” button.
Otherwise, you won’t see an “Update” update whenever you select the chart. In other words, you won’t be able to update the graph in the future.
How to automatically update all objects in Google Docs
You are going to have multiple things from your spreadsheet, like tables and charts, inserted into the Google Docs.
It is okay to manually update them if the count of inserted objects is 2 or 3.
Now, consider a case where you have created multiple charts based on a single table. All of those charts need to be updated on a monthly basis as a part of the report.
They can be updated at once using a few clicks.
Here are the steps,
- Select any chart or graph inserted into the Google Doc
- Click on the three dots in the upper-rightmost corner of the screen
- Select “Linked objects” from the popup
- A new dialog box will appear on the left side of the screen
- Here, you will see all the linked objects. If you click on any one of them, you will be taken to that particular chart or table in Google Docs
- Now, click on the “Update all” button on the lowest right side of the screen
It will take some time, depending on your internet connection. Once done, all the graphs are instantly updated with a few clicks, and your report in Google Docs is ready to go.
FAQs
Q. How do you unlink Google Sheets data from Google Docs?
When you wish to break the connection between Google Sheets and Google Docs, follow the steps below.
- Select the desired chart or table in Google Docs
- Click on the three dots that appear on the upper-rightmost corner of the screen
- Choose the option “Unlink“
Now, you won’t be able to automatically update the chart or table when the original data is changed.
Q. Can you integrate Google Sheets and Google Docs?
Apart from the methods discussed above, you can use third-party tools to establish a connection between Google Sheets and Google Docs.
However, we would suggest using built-in tools if you are looking for a solution to insert a table or chart in Google Docs for reporting and presentation.
Q. Can you insert multiple Google Sheets in Google Docs?
Yes, of course. Users can insert any number of Google Sheets in Google Docs.
In the case of inserting a table, it is pretty straightforward. The Google Docs will directly ask you to link the table regardless of the Google Sheets within which it is created.
Whereas, in the case of the charts, users can repeat the process by selecting a new Google Sheet every time they click on the option “From Sheets”.
Q. How can I share Google Docs or Google Sheets with my colleagues?
You can share Google Docs and Sheets with unlimited users and assign specific roles to them.
All you need is their email address.
Here are the steps,
- Open the Google Doc which you wish to share with your colleagues
- Hover to the upper-rightmost corner of the screen
- Click on the “Share” button
- A new dialog box will appear, as shown below
- After adding the email, make sure to assign a specific role to that user by clicking on the dropdown as shown in the following image
- Click on the “Send” button
All of your colleagues will be instantly notified about your invitation to collaborate on a Google Doc created by you.
Final Words
Inserting Google Sheets data in Google Docs is pretty straightforward. Anyone can do it without any prior experience.
Additionally, you can update all graphs and tables inserted in Google Docs with a few clicks.
I hope this article taught you all the bells and whistles of getting Google Sheets data in Google Docs. Feel free to comment below if you are stuck somewhere while following the steps discussed in this article.
For more such tips and tricks to use Google Sheets like a pro, make sure to explore our blog.