Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 24, 2022)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365
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, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365.
Excel Smarts for Beginners! Featuring the friendly and trusted For Dummies style, this popular guide shows beginners how to get up and running with Excel while also helping more experienced users get comfortable with the newest features. Check out Excel 2019 For Dummies today!
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 MoreYou can hide a bunch of worksheets at the same time, but Excel makes it much more difficult (depending on your version of ...
Discover MoreWhen worksheet names are quite long, it can present problems in displaying those names in the tabs at the bottom of the ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
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.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments