Reference Data in Spreadsheets

Show the values in a cell, range of cells, or sheet from one spreadsheet in another spreadsheet. Referenced data retains the source formatting, and it refreshes automatically when you load the spreadsheet or when the source data is updated.

Required Editions

Available in: Quip desktop app, Quip iOS mobile app, and Quip on web

To create or edit a data reference, you must have access to the source spreadsheet. Other people can see the referenced data even if they don’t have access to the source spreadsheet.

  1. Click a cell in the spreadsheet.
  2. From the Insert menu, select Data Reference.
  3. Search for the spreadsheet that you want to reference.
  4. From the correct spreadsheet, select the cell or range of cells that you want to reference, and then select Reference.
Tip
Tip To compile data from several spreadsheets in a single spreadsheet, repeat steps 1 through 4 for each data set.

After you create a data reference, you can work with it in two ways:

  • You can filter but not sort referenced data.
  • To update referenced data, open the source spreadsheet, and edit the data.
Tip
Tip When you update source data, check your data reference structure to make sure that all data remains referenced. For example, if you reference a fixed range and then add a column or row in that range, the data originally referenced in that range is cut off.
  • To delete referenced data, clear the cell. Deleting a data reference doesn’t affect the source data.
  • To see the source of referenced data, in the spreadsheet formula bar, select Data Reference.