Noted at http://ask.metafilter.com/37241/Linking-cells-in-Word
So while there is some odd way you could do something in VBA (if you don't know then it's not an option) you should bail out to Excel to make your automation there then embed that in the Word document.
Bob
Hi
I have a table that I would like to link cells in. Is this possible?
eg. I have a column of steps and next to each of those steps is the task associated with it. So step 6 says to email Joe to start step 8. How can I get that to update if I add another step between 6 and 8 and the step I need to get Joe to start is now step 9?
Does that make sense?

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