WPS Cross-Table Reference on Windows: Introduction

WPS Cross-Table Reference is a spreadsheet feature for pulling data across files on Windows; 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

About This Feature

Overview

Cross-Table Reference in WPS Spreadsheet for Windows lets you reference cells or ranges from another spreadsheet file in the current workbook, so you can build cross-file summaries and keep linked data up to date.

Core tasks include:

Start a cross-table reference by typing = in a cell and using the prompt to reference data from another spreadsheet.
Insert a cross-table reference from the Formulas tab and choose a target range.
Change an existing cross-table reference to point to a different file or range.
Refresh linked results to pull the latest values from the source file.

This feature is useful for department summaries, shared team reports, recurring reporting cycles, and multi-file data checks.

System Requirements

Item	Requirement
Operating system	A Windows device that can run WPS Office normally
App version	It is recommended to use the latest version of WPS Office
Network	A stable internet connection is recommended when the source file is stored online
Other	You need access permission to the referenced spreadsheet file

Download & Installation

Install WPS Office on Windows before using Cross-Table Reference, and make sure you can open spreadsheet files in the desktop app.

Item	Details
Official download	WPS Office Free Download
Check after installation	Open WPS Office, open a spreadsheet, and confirm that the Cross-Table Reference entry is available from the Formulas tab

Source: WPS download page

Compare with Alternatives

Dimension	WPS	Microsoft	Google	Notion	Adobe
Capability Summary	Supports referencing data from another spreadsheet file in the current workbook, with commands to insert, change, and update references.	Excel supports workbook links that reference cells, ranges, or defined names across workbooks.	Google Sheets can reference another sheet directly inside one spreadsheet, but cross-spreadsheet references require `IMPORTRANGE`.	Notion mainly connects data through database Relations and Rollups rather than cell-level spreadsheet references across workbooks.	Adobe Acrobat focuses on PDF comparison and document workflows rather than spreadsheet-style cross-file references.
WPS Advantages	Advantage: WPS provides both an `=` prompt entry and a Formulas tab entry for starting cross-table references, plus direct commands to change or update existing links.	Compared with WPS: Excel also supports cross-workbook links, but the official workflow centers on workbook links and Paste Link.	Compared with WPS: Google Sheets relies more on formula-based input for cross-spreadsheet references.	Compared with WPS: Notion is better aligned with database relationships and summaries, not workbook-style cell references.	Compared with WPS: Acrobat does not provide an equivalent spreadsheet reference workflow.
Official Source	—	Create workbook links	Reference data from other sheets	Relations & rollups	Compare two versions of a PDF file

Overall Conclusion
If your main goal is to pull values across spreadsheet files, adjust reference targets, and refresh linked results, WPS offers a direct spreadsheet workflow on Windows. Excel provides a comparable workbook-link model, while Google Sheets depends more on formula input for cross-file references. Notion and Adobe are better suited to database coordination or PDF review tasks.

Use Cases

No.	Scenario	Suitable for	Main challenge	How Cross-Table Reference helps
1	Monthly summary workbook	Finance teams, operations teams	Data is spread across multiple source files	Pull values from other spreadsheet files into one summary workbook
2	Shared team dashboard	Project teams, managers	Teams need the latest values from shared files	Reference a selected range from an online file and refresh it when needed
3	Recurring reporting cycles	Analysts, coordinators	The same links need to be reused every cycle	Keep existing reference relationships and update them in later periods
4	Multi-file verification	Reviewers, reconciliation staff	Key values must be checked across files	Change or refresh references to verify the latest returned values

Membership & Benefits

Free vs WPS Premium

Capability	Free users	WPS Premium
Basic Cross-Table Reference usage	Available	Available
Core WPS Office apps	Available	Available
Additional advanced office features and value-added services	Some features may be limited	Broader access is typically available

Source: WPS Office pricing page

Recommendations

Scenario	Recommended plan	Why
Everyday cross-file lookup and basic summaries	Free	This feature is available without membership and fits routine spreadsheet work
Users who also need more advanced office capabilities	WPS Premium	Suitable when you want broader access to advanced features and added services

WPS membership center: Subscribe now