When it comes to giving presentations at work or school, effective communication of ideas is key. Being able to use spreadsheet data in a slideshow, especially one that you can easily update, can definitely help. Now, if you want to do this, you need to learn how to navigate Google Sheets. In this article, we will look at how to insert Google Sheets into Google Slides, along with other valuable tips to make the most of this seamless integration.
Why Insert Google Sheets into Google Slides
Among many other platforms, Google Slides has proven to be an essential presentation program that only requires a Google Drive account. While the program itself is simple, it is still packed with many features that you can use to your advantage. And just like Google Sheets, these features can sometimes be a bit tricky to understand.
When trying to create a proper presentation, you should never underestimate the importance of having up-to-date data. Enter the integration of Google Sheets. By linking a spreadsheet to your Google Slides presentation, you can easily display the data from the existing sheet without manually entering it. This integration has the added advantage of automatically updating the presentation whenever the spreadsheet changes.
Quick Overview
Adding a Google Sheets chart to your Google Slides presentation is a simple process. There are different ways to integrate a Google Sheets spreadsheet into a Google slide you’ve created.
If you get a linked table, you can modify the included data range by clicking on it, and then clicking on the link icon at the top right.
By selecting Open Source from the Linked Options Menu, you can edit the spreadsheet from within Google Slides.
A small update icon will appear in the top-right corner of the table if the Google Sheets file has been updated, whether through Google Slides or directly in Google Sheets. To update your data, just click on it.
Note, Before Moving On
When a table is linked to Google Slides, anyone with access to the Google Slides file will also have access to the Google Sheets table. It doesn’t matter if the users do not have permission to access the Google Sheets file. As long as it’s linked, they will be able to see it.
You can also add a chart created in Google Sheets when you insert a spreadsheet into Google Slides for your presentation.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Insert Google Sheets into Google Slides
Let’s get right into the action of adding Google Sheets to Google Slides!
Here are the two methods you can use to import a table or chart from Google Sheet to your Google Slides presentation:
Add a Table
Step 1: Go to the Google slide where you want to import your table.
Step 2: Click on Insert, then click on Table.
NOTE: You can select the 1×1 dimension even if your table is bigger than that, Google Slides will automatically adjust the size.
Here’s what a 1×1 table should look like:
Step 3: Go to the Google spreadsheet from which you want to import the table, select the cell range with the table, right-click and copy it.
In the screenshot above, I selected the cell range A1:D7 because that’s where my table is.
Step 4: Go back to the slide and paste the copied table from Google Sheets into the 1×1 table in Google Slides.
NOTE: Remember to click inside the table before pasting. You can either right-click and select Paste from the menu, or press CTRL+V or CMD+V on a macOS device.
Now, let’s add a chart to this document.
Add a Google Sheets Chart to Google Slides
Step 1: Go to the slide where you want to import the chart.
Step 2: Go to Insert > Chart, and click on From Sheets.
Step 3: Select the spreadsheet.
Step 4: Select the chart and click on Import.
NOTE: If you check the “Link to spreadsheet” box, the chart in Google Slides will be linked to the chart in Google Sheets. So any changes made to the chart in Google Sheets will also be reflected in Google Slides. If you don’t want this, uncheck the box, otherwise, click on the box to enable “Link to spreadsheet”.
And there you have it! You have successfully added a chart.
Here are the files we used so you can check them out for a better understanding:
- How to Insert Google Sheets into Google Slides – Presentation Template
- Insert Google Sheets into Google Slides – Spreadsheet Template
- And an article that might also be helpful: 5 Simple Ways to Insert Images from Google Sheets
Other Things to Know
Now that we know the different ways to insert Google Sheets into Google Slides, there are a few more points to keep in mind. The reason why a linked Google Sheets file is beneficial is that it allows you to show relevant information in your presentation without having to manually copy the data.
The update option ensures that this data is always up to date in the document itself. The ability to display accurate information will greatly contribute to a successful presentation.
Importing spreadsheet data into a slideshow eliminates the need to manually copy all that information. Plus, since Slides does a great job of formatting, you don’t even need to create the table or chart yourself; it all happens automatically in just a few seconds and looks exactly as it does in Sheets.
Additionally, copying and pasting an Excel spreadsheet may not work as smoothly as a Google Sheets spreadsheet; you won’t be able to update the copied version instantly.
Some third-party services will allow you to link an Excel spreadsheet into Slides. However, it’s easier (and safer) to first paste the data from the Excel sheet into a Google Sheets spreadsheet and link from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I import a Google Sheets spreadsheet into Google Slides?
Yes, to import Google Sheets into slides, you need to go to your computer, open a document or presentation in Google Docs or Google Slides. From Sheets, click on the spreadsheet with the chart you want to add, then click Select. Click on the chart you want to add and press Enter.
How do I turn a Google Sheets spreadsheet into a slide?
Unlike the steps to link a Google Sheets spreadsheet to a Google slide, to turn a Google Sheets spreadsheet into a slide, start by opening a Google Docs document or a Google Slides presentation on your computer. Then click on Insert Chart.
Next, select the spreadsheet that contains the chart you want to add. Then, select the chart you want to include. Uncheck the Link to spreadsheet option if you don’t want the chart to be linked to the spreadsheet, then select Import.
How do I merge a Google Sheets spreadsheet into a Google document?
If a user wants to merge a Google Sheets spreadsheet into a Google document, they need to click on a Google Sheets spreadsheet, and then select the Google Sheets file you created earlier from the drop-down menu that appears.
If your spreadsheet file contains multiple sheets, select the one you want to use for the mail merge. Then click on Connect to spreadsheet. For a detailed guide, check out our other article on how to insert Google Sheets spreadsheets.
How do I adjust a spreadsheet to fit on a single slide in Google Slides?
If you want to fit your Google Sheets spreadsheet, on your computer, open a document or presentation in Google Docs or Google Slides. Then click on Insert Chart. Then click on From Sheets. After doing that, click on the spreadsheet with the chart you want to add, then click Select. Click on the chart you want to add. If you don’t want the chart to be linked to the spreadsheet, uncheck the Link to spreadsheet option. Then click on Import. That way, you should be able to scroll through the spreadsheet inside the slide.
Conclusion
After going through all the necessary steps on how to insert Google Sheets into Google Slides and knowing how beneficial it is, you can independently upload your Google Sheets into your Google Slides.
It’s also worth noting that since Google Sheets is online, updating what you see in the slideshow is as simple as updating the spreadsheet. Any changes you make to this type of document are reflected wherever it’s viewed, including your Slides files when you link them.
This means that even though the sheets are viewed in your slideshow, you can still benefit from their structural formatting, useful formulas, and more. And as mentioned earlier, while you may not be able to directly copy and paste your Excel file into your Google Slides, you can still use third-party apps.
