Hyperlink() Function

Hyperlink() Function

The Excel HYPERLINK function returns a hyperlink from a given destination and "friendly name". You can use HYPERLINK to construct a clickable hyperlink with a formula. The HYPERLINK function can build links to workbook locations, pages on the internet, or to files on network servers.

Syntax

The syntax for the HYPERLINK function in Microsoft Excel is:

=HYPERLINK ( link, [display_name] )

Parameters or Arguments

Link_location

A path to the file or the URL to the Internet address.

display_name

Optional. It is the value that appears in the cell. If this parameter is omitted, then the link will appear in the cell.

Link_Location

The address supplied for the link_location argument can be an absolute reference or a relative reference. The difference between these two reference types is shown below.

Absolute Reference

Shows the entire path to the referenced file.

E.g.

C:\Documents and Settings\User1\ExcelFile1.xlsx

Relative Reference

Refers to the referenced file's location relative to the current directory.

E.g. if the current Excel file is located in C:\Documents and Settings, then the relative reference:

User1\ExcelFile1.xlsx

is equivalent to the absolute reference:

C:\Documents and Settings\User1\ExcelFile1.xlsx

Also, within a relative reference, ..\ is used to specify the directory above the current one.

E.g. if the current Excel file is located in C:\Documents and Settings, then the relative reference:

..\ExcelFile1.xlsx

means "move up one directory and from there, access the file ExcelFile1.xlsx"

This is equivalent to the absolute reference:

C:\ExcelFile1.xlsx

Hyperlink Function Examples

Excel Hyperlinks are an excellent way of organising your data. This is shown in the spreadsheet below, which collates details of sales invoices, and uses the Excel Hyperlink function to create links to individual invoices:

Formulas:

	A	B
1	Date	Invoice Link
2	05-Jan-17	=HYPERLINK( "C:\Invoices\Invoice_B001.pdf", "B001" )
3	06-Jan-17	=HYPERLINK( "Invoice_B002.pdf", "B002" )
4

Results:

	A	B
1	Date	Invoice Link
2	05-Jan-17	B001
3	06-Jan-17	B002
4

Note that, in the above example, the hyperlink in cell B2 uses an absolute reference, while the hyperlink in cell B3 uses a relative reference.

As the current spreadsheet is located in the directory C:\Invoices, the hyperlink functions in cells B2 and B3, create links to the files Invoice_B001.pdf and Invoice_B002.pdf, both of which are located in the directory C:\Invoices.

Notes

Use the HYPERLINK function to create links to workbook locations, pages on the internet, or to files on network servers.

When a user clicks a cell that contains the HYPERLINK function, Excel will open the file or page specified by link_location. Link_location can be a cell reference or named range, a path to a file stored on a local drive, a path a file on a server using Universal Naming Convention (UNC) or a path to a location on the internet or an intranet in Uniform Resource Locator (URL) format.

►   Link_location should be supplied as a text string in quotation marks or a cell reference that contains the link path as text.

►   If display_name is not supplied, the HYPERLINK will display link_location as the display_name.

►   To select a cell that contains HYPERLINK without jumping to the destination, use arrow keys to select the cell. Alternatively, click on the cell and hold the mouse button down until the cursor changes.