Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Unlinking an Excel Chart Automatically.
Glenn asked if there was a way to have an Excel chart automatically "unlink" itself. He has a template that has a linked Excel chart in it. When he creates a new document based on the template, he wants the chart to update (which it does), but then unlink itself so that it doesn't update again when the document is later opened.
The best way to handle this is with a macro, but a few "ground rules" need to be set first. The Word template must have the Excel chart inserted using Paste Special, as an inline shape (don't have the chart floating on the drawing layer). Also, you should use Edit | Links to set the link update for the chart to Manual.
Now, add the following macro to the ThisDocument module for the template:
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: 
Private Sub Document_New()
Dim ilshp As InlineShape
Application.DisplayAlerts = False
' cycle through all inline shapes
For Each ilshp In ActiveDocument.InlineShapes
' ignore error if inline shape has no link
On Error Resume Next
With ilshp.LinkFormat
.Update ' update link
.BreakLink ' break link
End With
' reset error
On Error GoTo 0
Next
Application.DisplayAlerts = True
End Sub
When a new document is created from the template, the user is asked to enable macros (they should enable them). The macro isn't copied into the new document; it stays only in the template. What the macro does is to update any inline shapes that have external links and then break the links.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (8182) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, and 2013. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Unlinking an Excel Chart Automatically.
Comprehensive VBA Guide Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the language used for writing macros in all Office programs. This complete guide shows both professionals and novices how to master VBA in order to customize the entire Office suite for their needs. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2010 today!
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2017-03-08 14:37:20
Peter Kirkpatrick
@Eileen, it will depend on the particular document, but it's not hard to imagine how this might work in practice. Here's one example...
I have to write a monthly sales report. The report consists of a graph of this month's sales, plus a few paragraphs of general comments. I use a word template because the report layout is the same every month. I add the graph link in the template because I need the graph to be added to the report each month. But once it's added, I want the data to be fixed. For instance, I don't want to open the February report in June and discover that it is now showing the June figures because I forgot to cancel the Update links option. I want it always to be the February report.
2017-03-08 10:26:19
Eileen Lis
Allen, why wouldn't he want the graph to update when it opens again? I'm not sure I understand the reasoning behind this macro. Thanks!
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