ACC:Copy/Paste from Datasheet Field Pastes Column Name, Not Data

ID: Q189411

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

Novice: Requires knowledge of the user interface on single-user computers.

When you paste data that you copied from a selected field in a datasheet, you may see the column name returned instead of the copied data.


CAUSE

When you copy one item of data in a record you actually get a delimited string that includes both the column name and the data from the selected item. Some areas do not support the pasting of delimited text, and will return only the first section of the copied text.


RESOLUTION

You can select just the data from the selection by clicking at the beginning of the selection and dragging to the end.


MORE INFORMATION

You may see this effect in any Access object that can be represented as a datasheet, including tables, queries, and forms in Datasheet view. Microsoft Access preserves both data and the column name for the purpose of drag-and-drop compatibility with other software, such as Microsoft Excel and Word.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

You can demonstrate the described behavior by selecting and copying a single data item, and then trying to paste the data into the Find dialog box. To do so, follow these steps:
  1. Open the sample database Northwind.mdb.


  2. Double-click the Categories table to open it.


  3. Click in the first row of the Category Name field.


  4. Move the pointer to the left of the field until the pointer changes to a plus sign.


  5. Click to select "Beverages" in the Category Name field.

    NOTE: In Access 2.0, the pointer changes to a left-slanted arrow.


  6. On the Edit menu, click Copy or press CTRL+C.


  7. On the Edit menu, click Find, or press CTRL+F.


  8. In the Find In Field dialog box, make sure the pointer is in the Find What box and press CTRL+V to paste the data you have copied.


Note that the column name (in this case "Category Name") is pasted into the Find What box, rather than the data you copied.

NOTE: You will also see this behavior by copying from Microsoft Access to other applications, such as Notepad. You also see just the field name in the dialog box when you select the entire field, and then copy and paste. (The field name is copied with the data.) This behavior is different than it is in Microsoft Excel. 


Keywords          : kbdta 
Version           : WINDOWS:2.0,7.0,97
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: April 29, 1999