Creating a Worksheet Copy by Default

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 24, 2022)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, Excel in Microsoft 365, and 2021


Jim creates his invoices using an Excel worksheet. He often needs to copy the worksheet to a different workbook, which he does by displaying the Move or Copy dialog box and going through the steps necessary. He wonders if it is possible to have the "Create a Copy" check box selected, by default, in the Move or Copy dialog box.

There is no way to set the default for the dialog box as you desire; Excel simply doesn't have the ability to save such a change. No doubt the setting could be tweeked by using a macro, but if you are going to go the route of creating a macro, you should take the extra steps of simply recording the entire process. You could turn on the macro recorder and then go through your steps to copy the worksheet. The trick to getting started is to simply write down the steps you want the macro to follow and then follow those steps as you record the macro.

Once the macro is recorded you could then modify it to make it much more powerful than just copying the worksheet to a different workbook. (For instance, you could have the macro provide a new name for the copied worksheet, if desired.) Such changes, though, could be done over time,a s you have the need and the inclination.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (9039) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, Excel in Microsoft 365, and 2021.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Deleting Blank Rows

Got some pesky blank rows in your data that you want to get rid of? This tip provides a wide variety of methods you can ...

Discover More

Spell Checking Your Document

One of the final touches that many people perform is to check the spelling of their document. This can help improve the ...

Discover More

Understanding the Guest Account

If lots of people may need temporary access to your computer, then you may want to set up the Guest user account. Before ...

Discover More

Solve Real Business Problems Master business modeling and analysis techniques with Excel and transform data into bottom-line results. This hands-on, scenario-focused guide shows you how to use the latest Excel tools to integrate data from multiple tables. Check out Microsoft Excel 2013 Data Analysis and Business Modeling today!

More ExcelTips (ribbon)

Copying a Single Cell to Multiple Worksheets

If you need to copy a cell from one worksheet to a bunch of other worksheets, the work can quickly get tedious. Make the ...

Discover More

Changing the Color of Worksheet Gridlines

Want the gridlines in your worksheet to be a different color? You aren't limited to stodgy black; Excel lets you make ...

Discover More

Dynamic Worksheet Tab Names

Need a worksheet's name to change based on the contents of a cell? You'll need to rely on a macro to do the changing, but ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 8 - 5?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


This Site

Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.