How do I attach a file to my word document

Question

How do I attach a file to my word document

Julie A Moffitt 0

Hello, I am having issues with attaching a file to my word document. I am using office 365 from my school cloud account. I have tried multiple times to attach this file to the "Appendix" section. Each time it cuts off the information. I am changing the orientation in the layout but will change the whole paper into landscape. I can't fix it. Please advise if this is even doable.
<Moderator's note: Personal Identifiable Information removed>

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3 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Yes, it is doable in the desktop version of Word.

If the goal is to attach another file to the Word document as an appendix, use an embedded object:

Open the Word document.
Place the cursor in the Appendix section.
Go to Insert > Object.
Select Create from File.
Select Browse and choose the file.
Select Insert.
Choose Display as icon if the file should appear as an attachment-style icon in the document.
Select OK.

If the goal is to show the actual contents of the other document inside the appendix, inserting it as an object may not be the best choice, because embedded files are treated like objects and are not meant for full-page document layout.

For the issue where content is being cut off:

Changing Orientation to Landscape changes the whole section unless the appendix is placed in its own section.
If only the appendix pages need landscape, the appendix content must be in a separate section before changing orientation.

Also, if the file is being opened in Word for the web, some insert-file options are not supported there. The full desktop version of Word for Windows or macOS supports Insert > Object.

If the requirement is to include the appendix material so it is fully readable on the page, the practical options are:

Embed the file as an icon in the appendix using Insert > Object > Create from File > Display as icon.
If only part of the file is needed, copy and paste the needed text.
If the appendix is a PDF, it can be inserted as an attachment object with Insert > Object > Create from File > Browse > OK. After insertion, it can be resized, but not edited in place.

Answer 2

Julie A Moffitt 0

I have tried all of these suggestions and I cannot complete the task

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Answer 3

Austin-H 8,470 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hello Julie A Moffitt
Thank you for posting question to Microsoft Q&A Forum.
To better understand your request, could you please confirm how you would like the file to appear in the Appendix section?

Do you want to insert the file as an icon that readers can open?

Or do you want to display the file’s full contents, such as its pages or tables, directly within the Appendix?

Could you also confirm whether the file has a sensitivity label or other protection policy applied? If the file is protected, your school’s security policy may restrict how it can be inserted into another Word document. The error should look like this:
User's image

This is a screenshot from my testing environment with appendix - please confirm if you would like it to look it like this
Test

Disclaimer: Please note that the SharePoint link included in your post may contain personally identifiable or organization-specific information. For privacy and security reasons, please remove the link from this public thread and refrain from posting any additional personal information, account details, private file links, or other sensitive information. Additionally, the shared file cannot be opened from our side because access is restricted by your organization’s permissions. If you need to provide more details, please share only a screenshot of the relevant Word behavior or error message, ensuring that all personal information, email addresses, file paths, and organization details are hidden.
Please also let me know whether you are using the Word desktop application or Word for the web through your school account.

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Julie A Moffitt 0 Reputation points

2026-10-15T02:13:38.1+00:00

Hi I would like to want to display the file’s full contents, such as its pages or tables, directly within the Appendix. I don't think it has a security label or protection. Thank you, Julie
Austin-H 8,470 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-15T02:18:00.28+00:00

Hello Julie A Moffitt
Thank you for your quick answer.
Could you help me to provide a screenshot from your end how does it look like when you tried to attach that file's full contents within the Appendix?
Does it break like this screenshow below? (I tried to put only a blank document with the "test" word and it just broke the whole table in Appendix in my testing environment)

I would prefer more context to make sure that I fully understand what is happening from your end.
Julie A Moffitt 0 Reputation points

2026-10-15T02:19:49.97+00:00

Yes this is exactly what has happened each time I have tried to attach.
Austin-H 8,470 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-15T02:33:39.1233333+00:00

Hello Julie A Moffitt
Thanks for your reply.
When I tried to use Insert > Object > Text from File it looks like this:

If you use Text from File while the insertion point is inside a table cell, Word inserts all content from the selected document into that specific cell. Since the content is limited to the width of one column, the row may expand across several pages and the table may appear distorted. This is expected behavior to my perspective rather than an indication that the table or document is broken.

I recommend inserting the content outside the table:

1.Undo the current insertion (Which I did above - I tried to input the object > Create from file)

2.Place the cursor in a blank paragraph before or after the table.

3.Use Insert > Object > Text from File again.

If the source document contains lengthy or complex content—such as multiple pages, large tables, images, or special formatting—displaying it directly inside an existing table may not provide a usable layout. In that situation, the more appropriate option may be to embed the document as a clickable icon by selecting Insert > Object > Create from File > Display as icon. This keeps the original file separate and prevents its contents from expanding or disrupting the table.

Please note that an embedded icon is suitable only if the appendix requirements allow readers to open a separate attachment. If the complete appendix must be visible when the main document is printed or exported to PDF, insert the content outside the table instead and use separate pages or a separate landscape section as needed.
Julie A Moffitt 0 Reputation points

2026-10-15T14:21:06.2766667+00:00

Ok will give it a try. Thank you for your help.