Copying Data in Microsoft Excel

Copying data in Excel is convenient when you need to duplicate functions, formulas, charts, and other data. The new location can be on the same or different worksheet or even in a completely different workbook. As in all Microsoft programs, there is more than one way of accomplishing a task. In Excel, you can copy and move data in three ways:

Using a keyboard shortcut.Using the right-click context menu.Using menu options on the Home tab of the ribbon.

When the copy command is activated, the clipboard temporarily stores a duplicate of the selected data until you paste it into the destination cell or cells. Other methods of copying data that don’t involve using the clipboard include using the fill handle and drag and drop with the mouse.

Copy and Paste Data in Excel With Shortcut Keys

The easiest way to cut, copy, and paste, arguably, is with keyboard shortcuts. The keyboard key combinations for copying and pasting data are:

To select multiple adjacent cells with the arrow keys, press and hold down the Shift key. To select multiple non-adjacent cells with the arrow keys, use the Ctrl key.

Copy Data in Excel With the Context Menu

While the options available in the context menu, or right-click menu, usually change depending upon the object selected, the cut, copy and paste commands are always available.

Copy Data With the Ribbon

The copy and paste commands are in the Clipboard section on the left-hand side of the Home tab of the ribbon.

Moving Data in Microsoft Excel

There is no move command in Excel. To move data, you need to cut and paste it from one location to the new one. You can use cut/paste in Excel to relocate functions, formulas, charts, and other data. The new location can be in the same or different worksheet or even in a completely different workbook. As with copying, there are three ways to cut data in Excel:

Using a keyboard shortcut.Using the right-click context menu.Using menu options on the Home tab of the ribbon.

When you cut data in Excel, the clipboard temporarily stores it, just like when you copy data.

Move Data in Excel With Shortcut Keys

The keyboard key combinations used to copy data are:

To select multiple adjacent cells with the arrow keys, press and hold down the Shift key.To select multiple non-adjacent cells with the arrow keys, use the Ctrl key.

Move Data in Excel With the Context Menu

When you right-click on a cell, the context menu always includes the cut, copy, and paste commands.

Move Data in Excel With the Ribbon

The cut and paste commands are in the Clipboard section on the Home tab of the ribbon.