WPS Cross-Workbook Reference on macOS helps you reference data from other spreadsheet files in the current workbook; this guide covers 4 core tasks, with 4 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.
At a Glance
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core tasks | 4 | Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index |
| Available without membership | 4 | Matches the number of Free rows in the index |
| Membership-related items | 0 | Matches the number of membership-related rows in the index |
| Version limit | None stated | The feature description shows no version restriction |
| Membership limit | None stated | The feature description shows no membership restriction |
About This Feature
Overview
Cross-Workbook Reference is a spreadsheet formula feature in WPS Office for Mac that lets you reference cells or ranges from other spreadsheet files in the current workbook for cross-file data linking and summary work.
Core tasks include:
- Start a reference quickly by typing
=in the formula bar and opening the reference prompt. - Insert a cross-workbook reference from the Formulas tab for more precise file and range selection.
- Change an existing cross-workbook reference when the target file or range needs to be updated.
- Refresh reference results manually to sync the latest data from the source file.
This feature is useful for cross-file summaries, team spreadsheet collaboration, recurring report updates, and linked data workflows in cloud documents.
System Requirements
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | A Mac device that can run WPS Office normally |
| App version | It is recommended to use the latest version of WPS Office for Mac |
| Network | A network connection is recommended when you reference cloud documents or need the latest synced data |
| Other | You need access to the referenced spreadsheet files; team documents also require the proper permissions |
Download & Installation
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official download | WPS Office Free Download |
| Installation notes | Download and install WPS Office for Mac, then open a spreadsheet file to access this feature |
| Post-install check | Open a spreadsheet, then check the Formulas tab for Cross-Workbook Reference related commands |
Source: WPS download page
Compare with Alternatives
| Dimension | WPS | Microsoft | Notion | Adobe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capability Summary | References cells or ranges from other spreadsheet files in the current workbook and provides commands to insert, change, and update references. | Excel supports workbook links, previously called external references, to combine data from other workbooks or sheets and refresh linked values. | Google Sheets Connected Sheets focuses on accessing, analyzing, and refreshing BigQuery or Looker data inside spreadsheets. | Notion uses Relations and Rollups to connect databases and aggregate related properties across pages. | Acrobat can collect PDF form data and merge exported data files into a spreadsheet for analysis. |
| WPS Advantages | Advantage: The feature is built into familiar spreadsheet workflows with direct entry from = prompts and the Formulas tab, plus dedicated commands to insert, change, and update references. | Compared with WPS: Excel also supports workbook links, but its official guidance emphasizes workbook-link management and content enabling for refresh behavior. | Compared with WPS: Connected Sheets is oriented to data-platform connections rather than direct formula-style references between everyday spreadsheet files. | Compared with WPS: Notion is designed for database relations and rollups, not traditional cell-range references across spreadsheet workbooks. | Compared with WPS: Acrobat focuses on PDF form data collection and export, not spreadsheet formulas that reference cells across files. |
| Official Source | — | Create workbook links | Use Connected Sheets in your organization | Relations and rollups | Collect and manage PDF form data |
Overall Conclusion
If your main goal is to build and maintain references between spreadsheet files, WPS Cross-Workbook Reference fits common spreadsheet workflows directly. Other products also support data connection or aggregation, but they focus on workbook-link management, data-platform access, database relations, or PDF form data processing.
Use Cases
| No. | Scenario | Suitable for | Main challenge | How this feature helps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monthly summary reports | Finance and operations teams | Data is spread across multiple spreadsheet files | Insert cross-workbook references to pull key values into one summary sheet |
| 2 | Team data lookup | Team members | Need the latest values from team documents | Reference cells or ranges directly from team files |
| 3 | Recurring result refresh | Analysts | Source files change over time | Use Update References to refresh the latest results |
| 4 | Reference target adjustment | Spreadsheet maintainers | The original source file or range has changed | Use Change Cross-Workbook Reference to point to a new target |
| 5 | Quick reference setup | General users | Need a simple way to start | Type = in the formula bar and use the prompt to begin |
Membership & Benefits
Free vs WPS Premium
| Capability | Free users | WPS Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Basic cross-workbook reference use | Available | Available |
| Core office features | Available | Available |
| Cloud storage | 1 GB | 20 GB on some plans shown on the pricing page |
| Template downloads | Limited | More advanced templates and added benefits |
| Some PDF and AI-related features | Limited or basic access | More advanced features or higher usage allowances |
Source: WPS Office pricing page
Recommendations
| Scenario | Recommended plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You mainly need cross-workbook references and standard spreadsheet editing | Free | This feature itself has no membership restriction and is suitable for everyday reference and summary work |
| You also need more cloud storage, templates, or broader advanced office features | WPS Premium | Suitable for users with broader collaboration, storage, or extended productivity needs |
How to Subscribe
- WPS membership center: Subscribe now
Source: WPS Office pricing page