Integrating a PNG with Excel

Integrating a Portable Network Graphics (PNG) image into Excel can be accomplished through various methods. Whether you are looking to extract data from a picture, insert an image into your worksheet, or utilize functions to embed images into cells, Excel offers multiple ways to work with PNG files. Understanding each method will allow you to efficiently incorporate visual elements into your spreadsheets.

Data from Picture Feature

Excel's Data from Picture feature enables users to extract data directly from a PNG image. This feature is particularly useful when you have a hard copy of a table and want to digitize it without manual entry. To ensure accuracy, the image should be taken head-on and in focus. It's important to note that this feature supports a limited number of character sets and is only available on Excel for Windows on Windows 11 or Windows 10 version 1903 or higher, and it requires the installation of Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime.

Inserting PNG Images in Excel for the Web

For users of Excel for the web, there are three primary ways to insert a PNG image into your worksheet. You can upload a picture from your computer, choose from stock images, or use Bing Pictures search to find an image. However, directly inserting images from Bing search is not secure, so it's recommended to first save the image to your computer. Once inserted, you can move and resize the images as needed within your worksheet.

Using the IMAGE Function

Excel's IMAGE function offers a dynamic way to integrate PNG images into cells. This function allows the images to be part of the worksheet itself, meaning they can be moved, resized, sorted, and filtered along with the cells. This is particularly useful for creating interactive elements such as employee dashboards, games, or inventory tracking systems. While the IMAGE function is highly versatile, it is currently available only to specific Beta Channel builds for Insiders and may require authentication for certain images. Users should also be aware that image rendering can be affected when zooming or when moving between different platforms.

Integrating PNG with Sourcetable

When integrating a PNG or any visual data into a data management system, choosing the right platform is crucial. Sourcetable offers distinct advantages over traditional spreadsheet software like Excel. With Sourcetable, you have the ability to sync live data from a wide array of apps or databases, streamlining the integration process. This reduces the need for manual data entry and the associated errors that come with it, ensuring that your visual assets are always up to date with the latest information.

Moreover, Sourcetable's automatic data pulling capability allows you to gather data from multiple sources into one centralized location. This is particularly beneficial when dealing with images like PNGs that may need to be correlated with data from various systems. The familiar spreadsheet interface simplifies querying and manipulating this data, making it accessible even to those with basic spreadsheet knowledge. As such, Sourcetable can significantly enhance automation and business intelligence efforts, making it a superior choice over Excel for managing and integrating PNG files into your workflow.

Common Use Cases

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  Importing a table from a screenshot taken from a website directly into Excel for analysis
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  Digitizing printed financial reports by taking a picture and using Data from Picture in Excel
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  Converting data from a PNG image of a chart saved on your computer into an editable Excel spreadsheet
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  Capturing and importing data from a screenshot of a dataset into Excel using PowerQuery
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  Quickly transferring data from a business card or flyer by taking a photo with an iPhone and using Data from Picture to extract the information into Excel

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a PNG image as an option to Create New Object Type in Excel 365?

No, Excel 365 only allows for adding Bitmap images as objects, but you can add PNG images using the Create from File option.

Is Data from Picture available in Excel for Mac?

Yes, Data from Picture is available in Excel for Mac.

What character sets are supported by the Data from Picture feature in Excel?

The supported character sets are English, Bosnian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish.

Can I use Data from Picture to import data from a PNG file?

Yes, you can use Data from Picture to capture data from an image file by ensuring the image only depicts the data you want to import.

What versions of Windows support the Data from Picture feature in Excel?

Data from Picture is supported on Windows 11 or Windows 10 version 1903 and higher.