How to Attach a PDF File in Excel – 3 Easy Methods

The sample PDF file (Employee Record) contains the following table.

Method 1 – Using the Object Feature to Attach a PDF File in Excel

• Select the cell in which you want the PDF file.
• Go to the Insert tab.
• Select Text.

• In the drop-down menu, select Object.

• In Browse, select the PDF file you want to attach.
• Click Insert.

You have attached the PDF file.

• Right-click the PDF file.
• Select Format Object.

• The PDF file will be fixed in this cell. If you resize the cell the file will automatically be resized.
• Open the PDF by double-clicking it.

Method 2 – Using the Hyperlink Feature in Excel

Steps:

• Select the cell in which you want the PDF file.
• Go to the Insert tab.
• Select Illustrations.
• Choose Pictures.

• In the drop-down menu, select This Device.

The picture is inserted.

• Resize the image by clicking and dragging its corner.

• This is the output.

• In the Insert Hyperlink dialog box, select Existing File or Web Page.
• Select the PDF file you want to attach.
• Click OK.

• The link to the file will be inserted into the image. You can see it by hovering the cursor over the picture.
• Click the picture to open the PDF file.

This is the output.

Method 3 – Using VBA to Attach a PDF File

Steps:

Opening Module to Attach PDF file in Excel" width="340" height="267" />

• Enter the following code in the module.

Sub Attach_PDF_file() Dim PDF_file As String PDF_file = Dir("E:\office\Article 68\") Do While Len(PDF_file) > 0 If Right(PDF_file, 3) = "pdf" Then ActiveSheet.OLEObjects.Add(Filename:= _ "E:\office\Article 68\" & PDF_file _ , Link:=False, DisplayAsIcon:=False).Select End If PDF_file = Dir Loop End Sub

Code Breakdown

• A Sub Procedure named Attach_PDF_file is created.
• A variable named PDF_file as String is declared.
• A Do While Loop is used to repeat the loop while the condition is true.
• An If Statement is used to run the code for a specific condition.
• The If Statement is ended.
• The Sub Procedure is ended.

• Save the code and go back to your worksheet.
• Go to the Developer tab.
• Select Macros.

• In the Macro dialog box, select Attach_PDF_file as the Macro name.
• Click Run.

The PDF file is inserted and the first page is displayed.

• Resize the PDF file.

This is the output.

• Double-click the file to open the PDF.

This is the output.

How to Copy Data from a PDF File to Excel

Use the Power Query Editor.

Steps:

• In the Navigator dialog box, select from where you want to get data. Here, Page001.
• Click Transform Data.

• The Power Query Editor will open.

• Click the table button as shown in the following picture.
• Select Use First Row as Headers.

This is the output.

• In Import Data, select Existing Worksheet.
• Choose a location for your data.
• Click OK.

• Data in the PDF file was copied to Excel.

• Format the table.

Things to Remember

Whenever working with VBA, save your Excel file as an Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook. Otherwise, VBA will not work.

Practice Section

Download Practice Workbook

Download the practice workbook here.

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Mashhura Jahan, BSc in Industrial and Production Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, invested 1.5 years at ExcelDemy. In roles like Excel & VBA Content Developer, Excel Charts, and Dashboard course trainer, she wrote 90+ articles. She was previously part of the forum support team and a junior software analyst on the Excel Add-in project. With interests spanning Excel, VBA, Power Query, Python, Data Science, and Software Development, Mashhura brings a diverse skill set to her. Read Full Bio