• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer

My Online Training Hub

Learn Dashboards, Excel, Power BI, Power Query, Power Pivot

  • Courses
  • Pricing
    • SALE 20% Off All Courses
    • Free Courses
    • Power BI Course
    • Excel Power Query Course
    • Power Pivot and DAX Course
    • Excel Dashboard Course
    • Excel PivotTable Course – Quick Start
    • Advanced Excel Formulas Course
    • Excel Expert Advanced Excel Training
    • Excel Tables Course
    • Excel, Word, Outlook
    • Financial Modelling Course
    • Excel PivotTable Course
    • Excel for Customer Service Professionals
    • Multi-User Pricing
  • Resources
    • Free Downloads
    • Excel Functions Explained
    • Excel Formulas
    • Excel Add-ins
    • IF Function
      • Excel IF Statement Explained
      • Excel IF AND OR Functions
      • IF Formula Builder
    • Time & Dates in Excel
      • Excel Date & Time
      • Calculating Time in Excel
      • Excel Time Calculation Tricks
      • Excel Date and Time Formatting
    • Excel Keyboard Shortcuts
    • Excel Custom Number Format Guide
    • Pivot Tables Guide
    • VLOOKUP Guide
    • ALT Codes
    • Excel VBA & Macros
    • Excel User Forms
    • VBA String Functions
  • Members
    • Login
    • Logout
    • Password Reset
  • Blog
  • Excel Webinars
  • Excel Forum
    • Register as Forum Member

Microsoft Excel Camera Tool

You are here: Home / Excel / Microsoft Excel Camera Tool
Microsoft Excel Camera Tool
March 30, 2011 by Mynda Treacy

You’re not likely to hear about Excel’s Camera tool on a training course and you certainly won’t find it on the ribbon. It is one of those insider tips that are hidden away in the toolbar options.

What is Excel’s Camera Tool

The camera tool takes a snapshot of a range of cells from somewhere else in your workbook and displays it where ever you position it. The snapshot image dynamically updates so when the data changes, the snapshot changes too.

Add Excel’s Camera Tool to Your Quick Access Toolbar

1.       Add the camera tool to your Quick Access Toolbar. Right click on the Quick Access Toolbar and select ‘Customize Quick Access Toolbar’.

excel camera tool add to quick access toolbar

2.       You’ll find it under ‘All Commands’, then scroll to ‘C’ for Camera. Click ‘Add’ to add it to your Quick Access Toolbar.

excel camera tool find in quick access toolbar

How to Use Excel’s Camera Tool

1.       Select the cells you want displayed in your snapshot. Note: if you’re taking a snap shot of a graph you will need to align the graph to the underlying cells first.

2.       Click the Camera icon on your Quick Access Toolbar.

3.       Click the worksheet location you want your snapshot placed.

4.       Use the handles to resize and reposition it.

5.       Right clicking the image brings up options for formatting the snapshot like removing borders, cropping, protection etc.

Handy Uses for Excel’s Camera Tool

1.       It’s handy for putting together dashboards as you can resize the snapshot to fit where you choose.

2.       If you don’t have the luxury of two monitors you can take a snapshot of the result area of your workbook that you want to monitor or reference and insert it on the sheet you are working on.

Advanced Camera Tool Tip – Use IF Statements to Determine What Cell Range to Display

When you click on your snapshot image you’ll notice in the formula bar that it is referencing the range of cells displayed in the snapshot.

excel camera tool formula bar

This means you can use an IF statement to determine what range of cells the snapshot image displays.

For example; if results are favourable use the graph with green colour formatting, but if the results are negative use the graph with red colour coding.

Unfortunately you can’t write a standard IF statement that references cell ranges e.g. $C$1:$G$50, you have to use Named Ranges, but this is a minor inconvenience.

For detailed instructions on how to use formulas with your camera tool check out Charley Kid’s tutorial.

Limitations of Excel’s Camera Tool

1.       The image doesn’t stay sharp when you reduce it significantly.

2.       The camera images don’t print well, so it’s really only ideal for viewing on screen.

Want More Tips Like This?
Tips That Make Your Work Easier, Faster
And Much More Enjoyable!
Click Here to Get 102 Excel Tips & Tricks

Microsoft Excel Camera Tool

More Excel Posts

excel templates

Where to Find Free Excel Templates

Where to find free Excel templates and how to create your own Excel templates. Using templates saves time and effort.
Easily Remove Password Protection from Excel Files

Easily Remove Excel Password Protection

How to remove Excel password protection when you’ve forgotten the password. Works for sheets, workbooks and read only files.
Import data from a picture to Excel

Import Data from a Picture to Excel

Import data from a picture to Excel. Works with pictures from a file or the clipboard and loads it to the spreadsheet.
excel online

5 Excel Online Features Better than Desktop

5 Excel Online Features Better than Desktop including searchable data validation, track changes, single line ribbon and more.

10 Common Excel Mistakes to Avoid

10 common Excel mistakes to avoid, including merge cells, external links, formatting entire rows/columns and more.
new Excel features

Cool New Features in Excel for Microsoft 365

Cool New Features in Excel for Microsoft 365 including the navigation pane, smooth scroling, unhide multiple sheets and more.
dynamic dependent data validation

Dynamic Dependent Data Validation

Dynamic Dependent Data Validation with dynamic array formulas like FILTER make it quick and easy to set up.
QAT

Excel Quick Access Toolbar

The Excel Quick Access Toolbar is not only a handy for your mouse, but it also enables some super easy keyboard shortcuts.

Share and Collaborate in Excel

Share and Collaborate in Excel just like Google Sheets! Show changes, custom views, threaded comments with @ mentions and more.
Workbook Protection

Excel Workbook Protection

Excel Workbook protection can prevent your users from breaking your reports while still allowing interaction with Slicers and refreshing.




Category: Excel
Previous Post:Microsoft Excel’s N FunctionMicrosoft Excel’s N Function
Next Post:Training Return on InvestmentTraining Return on Investment

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Margaret Pont

    June 29, 2020 at 2:15 pm

    Fantastic information, as always. Kind regards
    Maggie

    Reply
    • Philip Treacy

      June 29, 2020 at 5:58 pm

      Thx Maggie

      Reply
  2. VV

    February 22, 2019 at 7:05 am

    Hi Mynda,

    When I read the camera feature article, I was ecstatic! It was exactly what I was looking for but I am having a some trouble. I tried using the IF function with name ranges however it is not working. The formula I am using is =IF($B$43=”ON”,OntarioWaterfalls,QuebecWaterfalls) but it is giving me an error message saying, “This formula is missing a range reference or a defined name”. Do you know what I could be doing wrong?

    Thank you for all your wonderful tips always!

    Reply
    • Mynda Treacy

      February 22, 2019 at 10:27 am

      Hi VV,

      It’s difficult to say without seeing your file, but the error suggests that you haven’t set up the named ranges. If that’s not it, please post your question and Excel file on our forum where we can help you further.

      Mynda

      Reply
  3. Mitch

    February 22, 2018 at 6:50 am

    Hi,

    I’ve always been using the camera tool for various reports, but there is one thing i can’t figure out and maybe you can help me with it. When you create image with the camera tool, sometimes the image will resize when you adjust column heights/row heights or insert rows/columns within the target range. Sometimes, it will not resize the image and simply shrink the image inside. I have played with various property of the image but cannot figure out how to toggle between the two (and even if the image was initially resizing, after a while it reverts back to not resizing). Any idea?

    Reply
    • Mynda Treacy

      February 23, 2018 at 2:50 pm

      Hi Mitch,

      I don’t use the camera tool all that much. can you please share a sample file on our Excel Forum so we can replicate the issue and try to understand more about it?

      Mynda

      Reply
  4. Joan Hauff

    December 8, 2017 at 1:55 am

    I have been using Excel daily for years and never knew about the Camera tool. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Mynda Treacy

      December 8, 2017 at 8:09 am

      Yes, there seems to always be something new to discover in Excel 🙂

      Reply
  5. wilson

    April 29, 2016 at 9:41 pm

    like the camera tool only seem it one other place USEFUL

    Reply
  6. GULZAR

    February 27, 2015 at 1:36 pm

    if any book of vba userform training kindly send me.your book of 100 excel tips and tricks is very useful and your way of teaching is so nice.thank

    Reply
    • Mynda Treacy

      February 27, 2015 at 6:37 pm

      Hi Gulzar,

      Glad you liked the 100 Excel Tips and Tricks eBook. Unfortunately we don’t have one for VBA.

      Kind regards,

      Mynda

      Reply
  7. Wanda Ponto

    January 21, 2014 at 11:24 am

    What is the difference between the Camera Tool versus the Paste > As Picture > Paste Picture Link? This dynamically updates as well.

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Mynda Treacy

      January 21, 2014 at 2:22 pm

      Not much, the Paste Picture Link is a new feature in Excel 2007 (I think).

      Reply
  8. putra

    January 3, 2014 at 6:30 pm

    Hello Mynda,

    Thanks for the sharing.
    Btw kindly please advise whether this camera tool can be use to display the hidden cell ? Thanks in advance.

    best regards,
    putra

    Reply
    • Mynda Treacy

      January 4, 2014 at 12:30 pm

      Hi Putra,

      No, the camera tool displays the cells based on their size. If you hide the cell(s) (row/column) the cell effectively has 0 size and the camera doesn’t display anything.

      Cheers,

      Mynda.

      Reply
  9. yaser

    September 26, 2013 at 8:14 am

    Dear mynda,
    u r great!!!
    can u help me ,i cannot make camera image for a graph?
    pls.advise

    regards,
    yaser

    Reply
    • Mynda Treacy

      September 26, 2013 at 2:32 pm

      Hi Yaser,

      If you follow the numbered steps in the tutorial above it explains what do to to take a camera snap shot of your graph. If you get stuck you can send your workbook to me via the help desk.

      Kind regards,

      Mynda.

      Reply
  10. Stephen Moore

    September 26, 2013 at 2:00 am

    Re: Printing Limitations

    You can make camera objects print properly with a couple of refinements.

    Firstly, you need to make an input cell, with a value of TRUE or FALSE. This could just be a drop-down list for ease of use.

    Then, set a named range for the cells you want a picture of, which Refers to =IF([input cell],[cells you want],””). When you have FALSE selected the camera will not update for the named range, and the picture will print normally.

    Reply
    • Mynda Treacy

      September 26, 2013 at 2:28 pm

      Nice trick. Thanks, Stephen 🙂

      Reply
  11. reza

    June 10, 2013 at 2:34 pm

    hi dear
    Iam reza
    i read this page and learn from U
    great thanks

    Reply
    • Mynda Treacy

      June 10, 2013 at 3:41 pm

      Thanks, Reza 🙂

      Reply
  12. Raymond Gota Toudji

    May 21, 2013 at 4:27 am

    Dear Mynda,

    Just read your e-book.
    It has great stuff, is well presented and nicely explained!
    Thanks for sharing, and I’ll definitely pass it through.

    I also like the layout of your site.

    Regards,
    Raymond.

    Reply
    • Mynda Treacy

      May 21, 2013 at 3:05 pm

      Thanks. Raymond 🙂 I appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback.

      Reply
  13. Joseph Horling

    January 31, 2013 at 2:19 pm

    Hi Mynda,

    I was just messing around with the Camera in Excel. I took a snapshot of one of my data tables and placed it in another Sheet. When I updated the original date adding another row of data the snapshot did not dynamically update. Can you show me how to do this? Thanks, Joe.

    Reply
    • Mynda Treacy

      January 31, 2013 at 8:43 pm

      Hi Joseph,

      It should automatically update. I tested it in Excel 2007 and 2010 and it updates by default for me. What version of Excel are you using?

      Kind regards,

      Mynda.

      Reply
      • Joseph Horling

        February 1, 2013 at 1:21 am

        Hi Mynda, I am using Excel 2010 version. Added another row of date to the table. It updated the dashboard, but not the snapshot. I must be doing something wrong, not sure. Joe.

        Reply
        • Mynda Treacy

          February 1, 2013 at 8:52 pm

          Hmmm. I’m not sure either. Can you send me the file via the Help Desk and I’ll try on my PC?

          Reply
          • Joseph Horling

            February 2, 2013 at 12:10 am

            Hi Mynda, Submitted a ticket request at the help desk. joe

          • Mynda Treacy

            February 2, 2013 at 8:20 am

            Hi Joseph,

            Ok I got your file, thanks. I presume you mean when you add rows to your table on sheet1 the picture doesn’t update? Because when I change a value in any of the cells of the existing table the picture does update.

            So, when you insert a picture it actually links to a specific range of cells. If you select the picture object and look in the formula bar you can see the range of cells the picture is referring to.

            Your picture only picks up the table cells originally referenced when inserting it, it doesn’t detect that more cells have been added to the table and grow accordingly.

            There doesn’t appear to be a solution to this (I’ve read elsewhere that this is a limitation in Excel 2007 onwards), however if you change the range your picture is linked to to make it bigger than the table, and insert rows within this range the picture does grow, just like a range referenced in a formula would grow when inserting rows within it.

            e.g. range is Sheeet1!$A$1:$E$25 if I insert a row above row 25 my range grows to Sheeet1!$A$1:$E$26

            So, instead of typing in new data in the first blank row under your table, you will need to insert a row first, then type your data so that your picture link increases. Not ideal, but all I can think will work.

            I hope that helps.

            Kind regards,

            Mynda.

Trackbacks

  1. Excel Dot Plot Charts • My Online Training Hub says:
    December 11, 2017 at 2:44 pm

    […] you’re familiar with Excel’s camera tool, then a quick and dirty way to create a dot plot is to insert a line chart with only markers and […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Current ye@r *

Leave this field empty

Sidebar

More results...

Course Sale

mynda treacy microsoft mvpHi, I'm Mynda Treacy and I run MOTH with my husband, Phil. Through our blog, webinars, YouTube channel and courses we hope we can help you learn Excel, Power Pivot and DAX, Power Query, Power BI, and Excel Dashboards.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Receive weekly tutorials on Excel, Power Query, Power Pivot, Power BI and More.

We respect your email privacy

Guides and Resources

  • Excel Keyboard Shortcuts
  • Excel Functions
  • Excel Formulas
  • Excel Custom Number Formatting
  • ALT Codes
  • Pivot Tables
  • VLOOKUP
  • VBA
  • Excel Userforms
  • Free Downloads

239 Excel Keyboard Shortcuts

Download Free PDF

Free Webinars

Excel Dashboards Webinar

Watch our free webinars and learn to create Interactive Dashboard Reports in Excel or Power BI

Click Here to Watch Now

Blog Categories

  • Excel
  • Excel Charts
  • Excel Dashboard
  • Excel Formulas
  • Excel PivotTables
  • Excel Shortcuts
  • Excel VBA
  • General Tips
  • Online Training
  • Outlook
  • Power Apps
  • Power Automate
  • Power BI
  • Power Pivot
  • Power Query
trustpilot excellent rating
 

Company

  • About My Online Training Hub
  • Disclosure Statement
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Guarantee
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Testimonials
  • Become an Affiliate

Support

  • Contact
  • Forum
  • Helpdesk – For Technical Issues

Copyright © 2023 · My Online Training Hub · All Rights Reserved

Microsoft and the Microsoft Office logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Product names, logos, brands, and other trademarks featured or referred to within this website are the property of their respective trademark holders.