WPS Cross-Workbook References on macOS: Introduction

WPS Cross-Workbook References on macOS lets you reference cells or ranges from other spreadsheet files in the current workbook; it includes 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	All topics in this guide are available directly

About This Feature

Overview

Cross-Workbook References is a spreadsheet feature in WPS Office for Mac that lets you connect formulas in the current workbook to data from other spreadsheet files, making it easier to build cross-file summaries, linked calculations, and refreshed results.

Core tasks include:

Start a reference quickly by typing = in a cell.
Insert a cross-workbook reference from the Formulas tab and choose a file and range.
Change an existing cross-workbook reference to a different file or range.
Update references manually to refresh the latest source data.

This feature works well for monthly summary sheets, team reporting files, cross-file statistics, and recurring workbooks that need linked results.

System Requirements

Item	Requirement
OS	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	Keep an internet connection when referencing cloud-based spreadsheets
Other	The source file should be saved, and your current account should have access to the target file

Download & Installation

Before using Cross-Workbook References, install WPS Office for Mac and confirm that spreadsheet files open normally.

Item	Details
Official Download	WPS Office Free Download
Post-install Check	Launch WPS Sheets, open any workbook, and check whether the Cross-Workbook References entry is available on the Formulas tab

Source: WPS Download Center

Compare with Alternatives

Dimension	WPS	Microsoft	Google	Notion	Adobe
Capability Summary	Lets you reference cells or ranges from other spreadsheet files in the current workbook, with entry points for insert, change, and update actions.	Excel supports workbook links that can reference cells, ranges, or defined names in another workbook.	Google Sheets provides `IMPORTRANGE` to import a range from another spreadsheet and requires access permission between sheets.	Notion mainly connects databases through Relations and Rollups, rather than traditional spreadsheet-style cross-file cell references.	Adobe Acrobat provides PDF links, attachments, and sharing links, rather than spreadsheet-style cross-workbook cell references.
WPS Advantages	Advantage: It provides both formula-bar triggering and a Formulas-tab entry point. Distinct: It also includes built-in options to change and update existing references inside the spreadsheet workflow.	Compared with WPS: Excel documentation focuses on formula-based workbook links and paste-link methods for external references.	Compared with WPS: Google Sheets relies more on a function-based connection model and permission prompts for linked spreadsheet data.	Compared with WPS: Notion is better suited to database relationships and rollups than cell-range references across spreadsheet files.	Compared with WPS: Adobe link features are designed for PDF navigation and sharing, not spreadsheet data linkage.
Official Source	—	Create workbook links	IMPORTRANGE	Relations & rollups	Share PDF links in Acrobat

Overall Conclusion
If your main goal is cross-workbook data references, edits, and refreshes inside a spreadsheet workflow, WPS offers a direct in-app path for those tasks. Other products provide related connection features, but they are oriented more toward external-link formulas, database relations, or PDF sharing scenarios.

Use Cases

#	Scenario	Target Users	Core Pain Point	Solution
1	Monthly business summaries	Finance and operations teams	Data is spread across multiple spreadsheet files	Use cross-workbook references to pull key values into one summary workbook
2	Team reporting files	Project members	The latest results need to be referenced from shared files	Connect cloud-based spreadsheets and display referenced results in the current workbook
3	Reusable reporting templates	HR and administrative staff	Data is copied repeatedly in every cycle	Set up references once and update them when needed
4	Data verification	Analysts	Source files change but target sheets are not refreshed	Use Update References to refresh the latest results
5	Reference maintenance	Heavy spreadsheet users	The source range changes and must be reassigned	Use Change Cross-Workbook References to switch the target file or range

Membership & Benefits

Free vs WPS Premium

Feature	Free User	WPS Member
Basic use of Cross-Workbook References	✅ Available	✅ Available
Basic PDF features	✅ Available	✅ Available
Cloud storage	1 GB	20 GB
Template downloads	Limited quantity	More template benefits

Source: WPS Office pricing page

Recommendations

Use Case	Recommended Plan	Reason
Daily cross-workbook references and basic spreadsheet work	Free	This feature has no membership restriction in this guide and can be used directly
More cloud storage and broader office benefits	WPS Member	Suitable if you also need more cloud storage and additional office benefits

WPS membership center: Subscribe now