Share via

Cannot insert PDF into excel

Anonymous
2021-09-16T15:04:38+00:00

Hi, I am trying to insert a pdf file into an excel spreadsheet. All of the guides online say to click insert>object>create from file. However, when I click insert>object there is no option for a "create from file" tab. It just shows 3 options for MS word files. Please could someone help, as I am going round in circles trying to figure this out. I am up to date in terms of updates for MS 365.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
  1. Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 430.1K Reputation points
    2021-09-16T17:26:33+00:00

    That's correct. Object Linking & Embedding [OLE] is a Windows technology which never has been supported on the Mac operating system. The guides you're referring to pertain to Excel for Windows. There is a From File... button in the lower left corner of the dialog window in your screen shot but it will not do what it suggests. It permits embedding only Excel or Word documents... Attempts to use any other file type will be met with a message stating Alert Cannot insert object.

    A PDF can be inserted using Insert> Picture which will display the first page of the PDF as an image.

    15 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments

1 additional answer

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Jim G 134K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2021-09-16T17:18:56+00:00

    Hi

    You can insert a PDF into an Excel workbook when running Microsoft Windows. Apple does not allow applications to start up other applications, which makes for a more secure operating system, but a consequence is that you can't embed PDF files into Microsoft Office documents.

    0 comments