How to manage linked files, change sources, and do versioning

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Written by Hadrien | Updated

When you use the UpSlide Excel Link you can change source Excels and/or destination PPT and Word file names and locations without breaking your link. This means that you can create different versions of the same file (each year, quarter, month, etc.) and easily update the link using the latest one.

Example: I have an Excel file with charts and tabs for my March results. I exported these charts with UpSlide into my March PowerPoint presentation. Today I am currently starting April reporting. I want to have an April Excel file and an April PowerPoint presentation. How can I have these two new files without exporting again?

Create your template files

  1. Create your files (Excel workbooks and PowerPoint presentation), or open them if you have already created them.
  2. Export your tables and charts, as usual. You can follow this article if you need help to export.
  3. Save your files and close them.

Working with these template files and creating new documents

  1. Duplicate your Excel workbooks and your PowerPoint presentation (you can paste them in a new folder)
  2. Open your new Excel workbooks and your latest PowerPoint presentation (do not open your templates at the same time)
  3. In your PowerPoint Presentation, click on Update all, tick Select all,
  4. Your Linked objects will update from your copied Excel into your copied PPT files.
  5. Save your new files. You have successfully duplicated and updated them.
Tip
You can save the pre-Linked files anywhere including within the UpSlide Library to further streamline the workflow and reduce the variety or number of places your team have to look to build content. This page explains how to add the files to the Library.

Outdated data warning: Reverting to older versions

If you are trying to update your PPT/Word using Update All and an older Excel source you will receive a warning "Outdated data?" . This is usually desirable but there may be times when you want to update using an older version. By selecting the Ignore outdated data warnings option at the bottom of the Update All window, you can ignore UpSlide’s alert and easily update your link using an old file.

After doing this first "Update all", you can create charts/tables, and update them as usual in these newly created files.

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Text Link: Broken links

If you or a colleague types over a Text Link (such as manually rewriting the value) the Link will break and whatever was typed over will become hardcoded. This can happen when sending a file for review where the reviewer makes manually changes and sends you the file back. When you open the file UpSlide detects these breaks for you and shows a window.

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  • View a list of all your broken exports
  • If you click on a broken link you are redirected to the slide and place within PPT
  • With the window open you can still interact with your slides