Outlook 2013 and embedded Excel spreadsheets

Good Morning:

I created a form in Outlook 2013 by embedding/inserting an Excel spreadsheet.  The spreadsheet has drop-down items for the user to select from.  The function of the form is as follows:

  • User selects form, fills out and submits to a Dept Mgr
  • Dept Mgr receives form and copies/pastes information in form to a different program

Problem:  the Dept Mgr cannot select/copy info in the form because Outlook converts the data into a picture. I tried to use the Paste Special function rather than Insert Excel spreadsheet to get around this.  This allows the recipient (Dept Mgr) to copy/paste data when he receives the form.  Problem:  The Paste Special function does not bring over the Drop-Down menus/formulas within the Excel Spreadsheet.  The only way I can get them to come over into Outlook is to Insert/Excel spreadsheet.  Please advise on how to accomplish what I am looking to do.

Many thanks,

Laurel

June 10th, 2015 11:33am

Hi Laurel,

Based on your description, I tested your requirements in my own environment. I created a spreadsheet in Outlook with dropdown list, then I received this e-mail and I found Outlook sent it as a picture (as shown in the following figure). I can only view this sheets but not edit it, I suppose this behavior is by design.

For getting your result, there are 2 workaround you can try.

  1. You can create the drop-down list in excel and then sent this excel file as an attachment.
  2. There is a feature called Excel Survey in OneDrive. You can create the Survey, and share the link by Outlook to collect you need online.
    More information please refer to this link:
    https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Surveys-in-Excel-hosted-online-5fafd054-19f8-474c-97ec-b606fcda0ff9

And the link of OneDrive is:

https://onedrive.live.com/

Hope its helpful.

Regards,

George Zhao
TechNet Community Support

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June 11th, 2015 5:17am

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