Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Office 365. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Copying a Cell without Formatting.
If you want to copy the contents of a cell without formatting, you can easily do so by using the Paste Special feature of Excel. Simply follow these steps:
In step 5 you could have chosen one of the Paste Values options, but Excel would not have transferred any formulas. Instead, it would have pasted the results of formulas, as if they were static values. In other words, to truly copy cell contents, you must use the Formulas option.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (9045) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Office 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Copying a Cell without Formatting.
Program Successfully in Excel! John Walkenbach's name is synonymous with excellence in deciphering complex technical topics. With this comprehensive guide, "Mr. Spreadsheet" shows how to maximize your Excel experience using professional spreadsheet application development tips from his own personal bookshelf. Check out Excel 2013 Power Programming with VBA today!
If you have added subtotals to your worksheet data, you might want to copy those subtotals somewhere else. This is easy ...
Discover MoreWant to show a user, in a cell, what you expect their input to look like? Unfortuantely it cannot be done natively in ...
Discover MoreSometimes the data in a worksheet isn't in the exact format desired. If you want to divide your values by 1,000, there ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2019-03-30 07:40:07
Alex B
I used to think what I wanted to do was copy "without formatting" but when it resulted in dates turning out as numbers I soon realised that a much better option was to include the Number format in the copying.
On the Paste Special Dialogue box on the right hand side you will find these options.
• Formulas and number formats (or right-click paste special drop down > button with %fx - 1st row)
• Values and number formats (or right-click paste special drop down > button with %2 - 3rd row)
I use the values and number formats enough to have it on the quick access toolbar.
In vba xlPasteFormulasAndNumberFormats & xlPasteValuesAndNumberFormats.
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 © 2020 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Office 365. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: 
Comments