Work with data

Move data within a workbook

To move to a cell, click on it to make it the active cell, which is outlined in green and shows its contents in the formula bar. To select multiple cells (a range), click and drag, then you can cut, copy, delete, or format as needed.

Copy cells
Copy cells

To move an entire column or row, click its header to highlight it. This allows you to copy or cut the entire column or row and paste it elsewhere.

Copy column
Copy column

After copying or cutting you can paste.

Paste
Paste

There are two options: 'Paste' and 'Paste Special'.

Paste specials
Paste specials

Select a cell or cell range

Click the first cell you want to select, and then drag to highlight the other cells you want to select.

Select disconnected groups of cells

  • Select a cell range.
  • Hold down the Ctrl key and select subsequent groups of cells.

Move a cell range

  • Select a cell range.
  • Point to the edge of the selection.
  • Drag the range to its new location.

If you move the cell range to cover cells that already contain values, Excel displays a message box asking if you want to replace the existing data.

Replace confirmation
Replace confirmation

Select one or more rows

Do any of the following:

  • At the left edge of the worksheet, click the row’s header.
  • Click a row header and drag to select other row headers.
  • Click a row header, press and hold the Ctrl key, and click the headers of other rows you want to copy. The rows do not need to be adjacent to the first row.

Select one or more columns

Do any of the following:

  • At the top edge of the worksheet, click the column’s header.
  • Click a column header and drag to select other column headers.
  • Click a column header, press and hold the Ctrl key, and click the column headers of other columns you want to copy. The columns do not need to be adjacent to the first column.

Copy a cell range

  • Select the cell range you want to copy.
  • On the Home tab of the ribbon, in the Clipboard group, click Copy.
Ribbon clipboard
Ribbon clipboard

Or

Press Ctrl+C.

Cut a cell range

  • Select the cell range you want to cut.
  • In the Clipboard group, click Cut. Or Press Ctrl+X.

Paste a cell range

  • Cut or copy a cell range.
  • Click the cell in the upper-left corner of the range where you want the pasted range to appear.
  • In the Clipboard group, click Paste.

Or

Press Ctrl+V.

Paste a cell range by using paste options

  • Copy a cell range.
  • Click the cell in the upper-left corner of the range where you want the pasted range to appear.
  • In the Clipboard group, click the Paste arrow (not the button).
Paste specials button
Paste specials button
  • Click the icon representing the paste operation you want to use.

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