Excel 2003 problem

Excel 2003 problem

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I am not brilliant on Excel, and I cannot find a solution to my latest problem.

I have workbooks with formatted worksheets, and want to copy the formats/formulas from one workbook to another. I normally do this using copy/paste & copy/paste special/formulas.

Now, when I copy from one workbook, then select Paste Special in the destination workbook, I don't get the normal 'paste special' window which allows selection of formula/format/value/transpose, etc. What I get now is a window that says 'Paste Special', then gives the location of the source file and then an option of Paste or Paste Link. It contains a drop down selection of filetypes!

I have searched through the helpfiles but haven't found anything helpful. Any clues anyone?

Replies (5)

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By ShirleyM
13th Jun 2011 15:17

Problem solved

I trawled the internet and found the solution.

We normally open Excel worksheets in their own instance of Excel so that both can be viewed at the same time. This was the problem. If we open the two worksheets in the same instance of Excel, and flip between the two, problem solved!

Because we had two instances of Excel running it didn't recognise that the copied data in the clipboard was Excel format.

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By chatman
24th Jun 2011 10:56

Viewing spreadsheets side by side

Shirley - Can you use the Excel "View Side by Side" button in Excel to view the two spreadsheeets at the same time? Or have I misunderstood the problem?

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By ShirleyM
24th Jun 2011 14:37

Hi Chatman

Yes, we could use that solution, but that means resizing the windows using click & drag. Then windows remembers the 'new' size, and will open every spreadsheet to that size, so we have to click and drag back to the old size.

We find it easier to open up spreadsheets, in seperate instances of Excel, on individual monitors so they can be maximised to full screen quickly & easily.

It isn't very often I copy/paste from one spreadsheet to another, so on these occasions it isn't too difficult to open them both in the one instance of Excel, on a single monitor, and swap which is viewable.

I like to know how things work, and I am very intrigued to know why/how I can copy and paste from VT+ to Excel with no problem, while Excel to Excel doesn't have this capablity.

The internet search engines are brilliant! They often provide the solution to my 'got to know how it works' dilemnas. I'll have a search around (when I get time!).

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By chatman
24th Jun 2011 18:09

ShileyM

There should be no dragging and dropping involved. Just two clicks I think. 

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By ShirleyM
24th Jun 2011 18:33

Yes, and no

 Yes, two clicks if I don't want to see the full worksheets, more if I do. Hope I have explained OK

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