A linked Sheets table in Google Docs can bring a maintained data range into a report. Check the selected cells and the destination audience, because report readers can see the embedded data even without access to the source spreadsheet.
Paste the intended range
- Open the spreadsheet in a supported computer browser.
- Select the exact cells needed for the report and copy them.
- Place the cursor in Google Docs and paste.
- Choose Link to spreadsheet when an ongoing relationship is intended.
Google documents a 400-cell limit for linked tables: larger ranges paste unlinked, and an existing linked table cannot be expanded beyond that limit. Check the actual linking result instead of inferring it from the appearance of a grid.
Review privacy and completeness
Inspect every included row and column for information not intended for the report’s audience. Source-file restrictions do not conceal the linked table from people who can read the destination document.
Include clear labels and units. A selected range that omits a heading or qualification can misrepresent otherwise accurate values.
Verify updates and final layout
Use the linked object’s Update control when a source change should be incorporated. Source updates can override destination-object changes, so do not maintain competing edits in both places without a clear plan.
Check the report’s narrative after refreshing the data and inspect the final PDF or Word output for width, wrapping, and readability. A linked table is appropriate when its maintenance relationship is useful; it should not be treated as a spreadsheet with every original interaction, calculation, or access boundary reproduced inside the document.
References
Reviewed against the linked official product guidance on November 3, 2026. Features, limits, screen labels, and access can vary by account, platform, region, and organization policy.