In this article, we will learn Expanded Paste Icon Features in Excel.
Scenario:
The paste special feature is undoubtedly a very useful option in Excel. It helps us control what we want to copy from the source and what we don't. I often refer to this option for various tasks, and here the shortcut of paste special in excel comes in handy. Let's learn how to use the Paste Special dialog box here.
Paste special option in Excel
In windows, the keyboard shortcut for paste special is Ctrl + Alt + v. Once you press this key combination, the paste special dialog box will open.
Here you will have many choices for pasting your data. Choices like All, Value, Format, etc. Each choice has a letter underlined that you can press on the keyboard to paste that property of copied cell/range.
In mac, we use CTRL+COMMAND+V key combination to open the paste special dialog. To select an option from the list, we use the COMMAND+letter key in mac.
Copy Paste value
Copy Paste with mathematical operation
Copy paste with Some more options
As you can see it's very similar for both operating systems whether its windows or macs.
Example :
All of these might be confusing to understand. Let's understand how to use the function using an example. Here I have an excel table that is formatted and has formulas in it.
Now press the shortcut Ctrl + Alt + v in windows to open the paste special shortcut. On Mac use the above mentioned shortcut.
Here we just want to paste the values. I hit the v key (v is underlined on value option). The value option is selected. When I hit the Enter button, I get naked values. It does not have any formatting or formulas.
Whereas In Mac, we use the command + c key to copy values. To paste just formatting, press the T key (T is underlined for Formats). It pastes the formatting of the copied range to the selected range.
On Mac, use the command + c key to select Value.
Similarly, we can do all of the tasks in using just the keyboard with the paste special shortcuts options.
Copy Paste only comments
Here we have a cell and we need to copy the comments of the cell and paste the comments of the cell to the new cell as comment. Basically copy and paste comments of one cell to another without editing any cell value.
Here copying cell contains the link of exceltip website in comments. Now we need this link on the other cell. So First we do the obvious thing, to copy cell using Ctrl + C.
Now go to the past cell. Right click > Paste Special > Paste special. Or just click the cell and Use shortcut Ctrl + Alt + V.
Choose the Comments option and Click Ok.
As you can see the new cell has the same link without even going to the edit comment option. You can insert Data, Chart or any other information as comment to copy and paste to another cell.
Just hover mouse over the cell to see the cell comment.
Many times we copy data from other sources, like the internet or any other application. In those cases, if you directly paste using CTRL+V, excel will most likely paste all the components of the source like formatting, checkboxes, radio buttons, etc. which is undesirable (in most cases). You would probably like to paste values only. In that case, you will use the special paste. When using the paste special, here you will get only three options; HTML, Unicode Text, and Text.
The default is an HTML option, which will paste everything you copied. Others are Unicode Text and Text (press T for selecting Text). These two options will paste plain text that we desire most of the time.
The difference in Text and Unicode Text is that Unicode Text uses Unicode to convert ASCII values into text and symbols. The ASCII Text is useful when we work with multinational data or Mathematical and Scientific data.
This one is old but I frequently use it. If you hit the keys ALT--> E-->S, one by one, it will open the Paste Special menu. This is an old command that was used in Excel 2003 but it is still compatible. Afterward, the process is the same.
Here are all the observational notes using the formula in Excel.
Notes :
Hope this article about Expanded Paste Icon Features in Excel is explanatory. Find more articles on calculating values and related Excel formulas here. If you liked our blogs, share it with your friends on Facebook. And also you can follow us on Twitter and Facebook. We would love to hear from you, do let us know how we can improve, complement or innovate our work and make it better for you. Write to us at info@exceltip.com.
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Paste Special Shortcut in Mac and Windows : In windows, the keyboard shortcut for paste special is Ctrl + Alt + V. Whereas in Mac, use Ctrl + COMMAND + V key combination to open the paste special dialog in Excel.
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