Refreshing and removing data connections

When you get external data, Excel will remember each data connection and you can refresh the connection at any time. This means that changes to the data in the original source will be updated in the worksheet.

Refreshing connections to text files usually requires choosing the text file once again. Refreshing connections to a Microsoft Access database or web page usually work without having to choose the data source again.

To refresh all open data connections:

On the Ribbon, click the Data tab

In the Connections group, click the Refresh All button – if any of the data connections refer to a text file, you will need to select the file again

To refresh a particular data connection:

On the Ribbon, click the Data tab

In the Connections group, click the Connections button

The Workbook Connections dialog box will be displayed.

In the list of connections, choose the required connection

Click the Refresh button – if any of the data connections refer to a text file, you will need to select the file again

Excel will update the relevant data in the worksheet.

Close the Workbook Connections dialog box

Removing a data connection

If you remove a data connection, the link to the source data will be broken. The data that is currently shown in the worksheet will remain the same, but you will not be able to refresh it.

To remove a data connection:

On the Ribbon, click the Data tab

In the Connections group, click the Connections button

The Workbook Connections dialog box will be displayed.

In the list of connections, choose the required connection

Click the Remove button

You will be asked to confirm the removal.

Click OK

Excel will close the connection.

Close the Workbook Connections dialog box