copy paste losing formatting

**Gti182** · 02-11-2011, 12:45 PM

Hi peeps,

This problem seems to pop up every now and again and i can't seem to quite figure out why. I've done a fair bit of searching on the net too with not much success, actually no success.

I have an excel report which is formatted a certain way (merged cells, font sizes, numbers, highlighting, etc) and when i paste the data into another excel spreadsheet it loses its formatting completely. I've tried all the paste options (paste special values, paste formats, paste column widths the works). Even if i select the format painter tool on a cell in the source file and apply format to a cell in the destination sheet it doesnt take effect.

Strange thing is, this only happens when pasting into certain excel documents. If i paste the source data into a newly opened excel spreadsheet it works perfectly with a simple "Ctrl C" and "Ctrl V"

Anyone else had this issue? Its driving me mad!

**TechRetard** · 02-11-2011, 02:28 PM

Is the problem that you are posting into a different instance of Excel?

**shor** · 02-11-2011, 07:00 PM

Your paste must be within the same workbook. If you are clicking on, lets say, sheet 2, a blank sheet in that workbook, your paste will work. If you go to top left hand corner,clik on the MSFT logo and open a new file, it will not paste correctly there.
Hope this helps.

Regards,
shor

**Gti182** · 02-14-2011, 05:17 AM

I'm pasting to another spreadsheet yes but the same version of excel 2003. It only happens when i paste into certain excel spreadsheets which already have data in them. Some keep the formatting but some dont. Thing is i have to paste into this certain spreadsheet which is a long standing model that many people use.

**Gti182** · 02-14-2011, 05:49 AM

Ok i managed to crack this one. Its to do with the preset "style" format of the spreadsheet.

Go to the Format drop down menu then select "Style". Deselect all the boxes and apply.

Probably best to make a backup first before giving it a go as i stuffed up the formatting a bit in the other tabs by changing too many settings