Excel: Paste Command Unavailable when Copying Range of Cells

ID: Q93177

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

When you copy a range of cells from a worksheet, Microsoft Excel for Windows uses a "fast copy" method. This "fast copy" method results in faster copying and lower memory consumption. However, "fast copy" also increases the possibility that cell data will be lost from the clipboard and the Paste command on the Edit menu will be unavailable from the Edit menu.


MORE INFORMATION

When you copy a range of cells from a Microsoft Excel for Windows worksheet to the clipboard, Microsoft Excel places a reference to those worksheet cells in the clipboard (it does not copy the actual data from the cells). This method of storing data is faster because placing a reference in the clipboard takes less time and uses less memory than placing the actual data in the clipboard.

When the clipboard contains cell data, you will see a moving border around the cells in the Excel worksheet and the following message will appear in the status bar: 


   Select destination and press ENTER or choose Paste


As long as the moving border is visible and the above message appears in the status bar, the reference to the cells exists in the clipboard. If you press the ESC key or choose another menu command, the reference to the cells is removed from the clipboard and the Paste command on the Edit menu is be unavailable (dimmed).

Workarounds

To copy the actual cell contents to the clipboard, use one of the following methods.

To copy data from one cell

  1. Select the cell.


  2. In the formula bar, select the cell data.


  3. From the Edit menu, choose Copy.


  4. To exit the formula bar, press the ESC key.


To copy data from a range of cells

  1. Select the range of cells.


  2. From the Edit menu, choose Copy.


  3. Open a text editor (such as Windows Notepad).


  4. Paste the data in a new text editor document.



REFERENCES

"Microsoft Excel User's Guide 1," version 4.0, pages 360-361.

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Last Reviewed: March 30, 1999