Copying Cell Contents

Copying Cell Contents

You can copy and move data on a worksheet from one cell or range to another location on any worksheet in your workbook. When you copy data, a duplicate of the selected cells is placed on the Windows Clipboard. To complete the copy or move, you must paste the data stored on the Windows Clipboard in another location. With the Paste Special command, you can control what you want to paste and even perform mathematical operations. To copy or move data without using the Windows Clipboard, you can use a technique called drag-and-drop . Drag-and-drop makes it easy to copy or move data short distances on your worksheet.

Copy Data Using the Windows Clipboard

Select the cell or range that contains the data you want to copy.

Click the Copy button on the Standard toolbar.

The data in the cells remains in its original location and an outline of the selected cells, called a marquee , shows the size of the selection. If you don't want to paste this selection, press Esc to remove the marquee.

Click the first cell where you want to paste the data.

Click the Paste button on the Standard toolbar.

The data remains on the Clipboard, available for further pasting, until you replace it with another selection.

If you don't want to paste this selection anywhere else, press Esc to remove the marquee.

Copy Data Using Drag-and-Drop

Select the cell or range that contains the data you want to copy.

Move the mouse pointer to an edge of the selected cell or range until the pointer changes to an arrowhead .

Press and hold the mouse button and Ctrl.

Drag the selection to the new location, and then release the mouse button and Ctrl.

Paste Data with Special Results

Select the cell or range that contains the data you want to copy.

Click the Copy button on the Standard toolbar.

Click the first cell where you want to paste the data.

Click the Edit menu, and then click Paste Special.

Click the option buttons with the paste results and mathematical operations you want.

Click OK.

Did You Know?

You can use the Alt key to drag and drop to a different worksheet . Once cells are selected, press and hold Alt, and then drag the selection to the appropriate sheet tab. Release Alt, and then drag the selection to the desired location on the new worksheet.