How to Attach a PDF File in Excel – 3 Easy Methods

The sample PDF file (Employee Record) contains the following table.

Method 1 – Using the Object Feature to Attach a PDF File in Excel

Steps:

• Select the cell in which you want the PDF file.
• Go to the Insert tab.
• Select Text.

• In the drop-down menu, select Object.

• In the Object dialog box, select Create from File.
• Choose Browse.

• In Browse, select the PDF file you want to attach.
• Click Insert.

• Check Link to file and Display as icon.
• Click OK.

You have attached the PDF file.

• Right-click the PDF file.
• Select Format Object.

• In the Format Object dialog box, choose Properties.
• Select Move and size with cells.
• Click OK.

• The PDF file will be fixed in this cell. If you resize the cell the file will automatically be resized.
• Open the PDF by double-clicking it.

Read More: [Fixed!] Cannot Insert Object in Excel

Method 2 – Using the Hyperlink Feature in Excel

Steps:

• Select the cell in which you want the PDF file.
• Go to the Insert tab.
• Select Illustrations.
• Choose Pictures.

• In the drop-down menu, select This Device.

• In Insert Picture, select the PDF.
• Click Insert.

The picture is inserted.

• Resize the image by clicking and dragging its corner.

• This is the output.

• Right-click the picture.
• Select Link.

• In the Insert Hyperlink dialog box, select Existing File or Web Page.
• Select the PDF file you want to attach.
• Click OK.

• The link to the file will be inserted into the image. You can see it by hovering the cursor over the picture.
• Click the picture to open the PDF file.

This is the output.

Method 3 – Using VBA to Attach a PDF File

Steps:

• Go to the Developer tab.
• Select Visual Basic.

• In the Visual Basic Editor window, select Insert tab.
• Choose Module.

• Enter the following code in the module.

Sub Attach_PDF_file()
Dim PDF_file As String
PDF_file = Dir("E:\office\Article 68\")
Do While Len(PDF_file) > 0
If Right(PDF_file, 3) = "pdf" Then
ActiveSheet.OLEObjects.Add(Filename:= _
"E:\office\Article 68\" & PDF_file _
, Link:=False, DisplayAsIcon:=False).Select
End If
PDF_file = Dir
Loop
End Sub

 Code Breakdown

• Save the code and go back to your worksheet.
• Go to the Developer tab.
• Select Macros.

• In the Macro dialog box, select Attach_PDF_file as the Macro name.
• Click Run.

The PDF file is inserted and the first page is displayed.

• Resize the PDF file.

This is the output.

• Double-click the file to open the PDF.

This is the output.

Read More: How to Attach Documents in Excel

How to Copy Data from a PDF File to Excel

Use the Power Query Editor.

Steps:

• Go to the Data tab.
• Select Get Data.
• Select From File.
• Choose From PDF.

• In the Import Data dialog box, select the PDF file.
• Click Import.

• In the Navigator dialog box, select from where you want to get data. Here, Page001.
• Click Transform Data.

• The Power Query Editor will open.

• Click the table button as shown in the following picture.
• Select Use First Row as Headers.

This is the output.

• Click Close & Load.
• Select Close & Load To.

• In Import Data, select Existing Worksheet.
• Choose a location for your data.
• Click OK.

• Data in the PDF file was copied to Excel.

• Format the table.

Read More: How Do I Insert a Multiple Page PDF into Excel

Things to Remember

Whenever working with VBA, save your Excel file as an Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook. Otherwise, VBA will not work.

Practice Section

Practice here.

Download Practice Workbook

Download the practice workbook here.

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