Using Match & Link to associate flowchart cells with a target cell spreadsheet

Use the Match & link target cells dialog to associate target cells in a flowchart with predefined cells in a target cell spreadsheet. This option is an alternative to using a flowchart process configuration dialog to establish the link.

Before you begin

Before you begin, someone in your organization must define target cells in a target cell spreadsheet. Then the flowchart designer can follow the steps below to associate output cells in a flowchart with the cells that were defined in the target cell spreadsheet.

Note: To use automatching, ensure that the flowchart output cell names match the target cell spreadsheet cell names or start with at least the same three characters.

Procedure

  1. In a flowchart in Edit mode, select Options > Match & link target cells.

    The Match and link target cells dialog shows Available target cells in the left pane and flowchart output cells in the right pane.

  2. Use one of the following methods to match target cells from the target cell spreadsheet with flowchart cells.
    To automatically match cells based on name

    Click Automatch.

    Successfully automatched cells have a status of Exact or Best match, and target cells that are matched display in red.

    To match cells manually

    Select one or more pairs of target cells and flowchart output cells, and click Match.

    The selected target cells are matched, in order, with the selected flowchart output cells. Successfully matched output cells have a status of Manual. Target cells that are matched display in red.

  3. Click OK.
    You see a warning that the flowchart run results will be lost.
  4. Click OK to continue.
  5. Save the flowchart. Target cell linkages are not saved until you save the flowchart. If you cancel the flowchart changes, cell linkages are not saved.

Results

The next time that you view the Match & link target cells dialog for this flowchart, the status of the matched and linked cells is Linked.