I have tried everything with my linked table in word and every time I choose "update link" it alters the table format in word. Is there any way to keep the formatting when updating the link?

What link format are you using and what are you trying to achieve? Do note that the format of content in any link is to a large extent controlled at the source.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

I first used source formatting, then tried destination formatting.In Word I need to adjust the table format, but whenever you update link because of an Excel source change, the table format goes back to the original when I first pasted the table.

As I said, the format of content in any link is to a large extent controlled at the source, but you still haven't said what you are trying to achieve. Without knowing that, it's impossible to say whether it's possible and, if so, how to go about it.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

There must be a way to update table links in Word without it changing your current format in Word?

As I have said twice now, the format of content in any link is to a large extent controlled at the source. What you can do at the target end is quite limited.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

I know you can use Paste Special: MS Excel Object and that keeps the formatting from Excel, but the tables are stretched in Word and do not appear as they do in Excel. The only other paste link options I found that maintain the semblance of my Excel table, is a) Link and Keep Source Formatting, and b) Link and Use Destination Styles. The first one wraps dollar signs that are flush left in Excel and when you format it in Word, the table goes back to the original pasted format whenever you update links. I would think that "b" might keep whatever formatting of the table that I have done in Word, but that doesn't seem to hold up either whenever I update links.

So are you saying that with either of these options I cannot maintain any formatting changes I have made in Word whenever I update links?

The unwanted resizing Excel object resizing (which is different from reformatting) is a known issue. In fact, it's by design. However, there is also registry key to prevent it. With Word closed, start the Registry Editor and navigate to:
• Word 2007 - HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\E xcel\Options
• Word 2010 - HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\E xcel\Options
• Word 2013 - HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\E xcel\Options
• Word 2016 - HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\E xcel\Options
Add a new DWORD value:
QFE_Boston
Set the new DWORD value to 1

As for the wrapping when using the 'Link and Keep Source Formatting' approach, the simple solution is to widen the column slightly in Excel.

Do note the embedded Excel objects cannot span a page boundary. If that is something you're likely to encounter, you will need to use the 'Link and Keep Source Formatting' approach.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

The Link and Keep Source Formatting and Link and Use Destination Styles simply do not maintain the source formatting for Excel tables whenever you update the link. This is something that Microsoft should've figured out when they created these paste functions. The Object link in Paste Special function seems to be the only one that works right although it gives you more a of a picture and not a table in Word itself.

Sorry, I thought you were interested in addressing the problem, not just spleen-venting...

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Spleen's fine, thanks, and I do appreciate the assistance, but when using the Paste and Keep Formatting function from Excel to Word, the new table in Word does not maintain the original table format, even when you past a relatively small table.

Sorry, but not that experienced here and I tried the link you mentioned but not sure how to find that solution you mentioned above with the DWORD value thing.

The object resizes because that how it's designed to work; the idea being to preserve the original formatting. The registry edit is for those who want it to work differently.
It's not a link - it's a registry edit.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

This is a work computer so I'm getting our IT guy to make the fix. Hopefully this works. I also discovered I can't use paste "picture" or "bit map" because it won't track changes to the table.

The issue with table formats not carrying over from Excel to Word when using "link with source formatting" seems to be with numbers only. Words in table cells seem to maintain their format in Word, whereas any numbers in cells automatically creates a larger row height in Word (maybe it's wrapping) and the use of dollar signs that are flush left in Excel always wraps into a second line in Word.

OK; got my IT guy to make the registry change and it may have helped somewhat. What I've discovered is still or the real problem with linking tables from Excel to Word using "keep source formatting" is any formatting to the numbers in tables, be it comma for thousands or a $ sign will create some sort of wrapping of the column and increase the height. If you use numbers without any accounting format, it works fine.

Edit: Actually it appears than you can format using "Number" or "Currency" format but any "Accounting" format blows up the table formatting in Word.