Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for automatically updating an electronic word processing document based on a change in a linked file and vice versa are disclosed. The systems and methods may involve accessing the electronic word processing document; identifying in the electronic word processing document a variable data element; accessing the external file identified in the link; pulling, from the external file, first replacement data corresponding to the current data; replacing the current data in the electronic word processing document with the first replacement data; identifying a change to the variable data element in the electronic word processing document; upon identification of the change, accessing the external file via the link; and updating the external file to reflect the change to the variable data element in the electronic word processing document.