Paste with number formatting and formulas intact

On the 7th of January we mentioned we would discuss each of the options from the Clipboard paste options illustrated here. The option we are going to explain today is indicated with the arrow.

 

This icon represents pasting just the formula and number formatting without any other formatting.

To begin, we will create a very simple worksheet with column A totaled in cell A7 using the formula =Sum(A1:A6) as shown here:

 

 

We formatted cell A7 as currency, with a yellow background, and a thick border. We have selected cell D7 so the figure will show the formatting as an indication of where we are going to paste the results. Next we reselected cell A7 and then copied it to the clipboard. To copy the cell you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl-C.

When we paste using the option discussed before (), we will get the results with the formula and number formatting intact as shown next.

As you can see, the currency formatting is there but the background color and the thick border is not.

Paste with formula or value without formatting

On the 7th of January we mentioned we would discuss each of the options from the Clipboard paste options illustrated here. The option we are going to explain today is indicated with the arrow.

This icon represents pasting just the formula or value in the cell without any formatting.

To begin, we will create a very simple worksheet with column A totaled in cell A7 using the formula =Sum(A1:A6) as shown here:

 

 

We formatted cell A7 as currency, with a yellow background, and a thick border. We have selected cell D7 so the figure will show the formatting as an indication of where we are going to paste the results. Next we reselected cell A7 and then copied it to the clipboard. To copy the cell you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl-C.

When we paste using the option discussed before (), we will get the results with the formula but no formatting as shown next.

As you can see, a total is now in cell A7 but the background color, thick border, and currency formatting is not.

First paste option

On the 7th of January we mentioned we would discuss each of the options from the Clipboard paste options illustrated here:

We will being with the first option (top row, far left) and give you a brief rundown of how each of these options will paste a formula from the clipboard. To begin, we will create a very simple worksheet with column A totaled in cell A7 using the formula =Sum(A1:A5) as shown here:

 

 

We formatted cell A7 as currency, with a yellow background, and a thick border. We have selected cell D7 so the figure will show the formatting as an indication of where we are going to paste the results. Next we will reselected cell A7 and then copied it to the clipboard. To copy the cell you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl-C.

When we paste using the option discussed before (), we will get a straight paste, from one cell to the other, copying the formatting and the formula. When we paste into cell D7, we get the total of column D with the formatting of the cell intact as shown here:

Notice the formula can be seen in the formula bar specifying that the total is for column D. This is the same result as if you pasted using the Ctrl-V shortcut.

Pasting options in Excel

When pasting from one location to another in Excel, you have a number of different options which are reached among other ways by pulling down the list on the Paste command on the Home tab as shown here:

The pull-down list options are illustrated in this captured figure:

 

Over the next few days we will explore each of these options.

Excel Shortcut keys for copying and moving

I write for Professor Geek eBooks and, as such, we will do our best to help you out with shortcut keys for Excel, Word, and Windows (most keys work the same in all Microsoft programs and Windows). Some of our installments will be simple, some more complicated and will require extensive explanations. Our first installment is about keys used to copy and paste. 

 When you have selected something in a Microsoft program or generally anyone else's program, you can copy what you have selected onto the clipboard by press Ctrl-C (hold the control key down and press C). Once it's on the clipboard you can positions the cursor some other place in the current program or in some other program and then press Ctrl-V to paste what was captured into the new position. For example, if you select a paragraph in Word, or several cells in Excel and then press Ctrl-C, a copy of the selection will be placed on Windows clipboard. Then when you move to some other position in the same program or a different program and press Ctrl-V, the selection will appear in the new location.

 If you want to have the selection only in the new location  (move it instead of copy it), use Ctrl-X instead of Ctrl-C and the selection will be placed on the clipboard and deleted from the current location.