Weekly Computer Tip # 162
7 July 2006

copy (or move) a worksheet to another workbook (Microsoft Excel)

Did you ever try to copy the contents of one of your worksheets into another worksheet? Well, if you used a normal copy and paste of the cell range you might have had a struggle with the formatting, right?

So perhaps you found out you can copy the complete formatted worksheet? (The easiest way to do this is simply holding down the [CTRL] key while you drag the worksheet tab to its desired location. If you don't hold down the [CTRL] key you move the sheet.)

Anyway, but what if you want a copy of the worksheet in another workbook you created earlier? Or perhaps copy it to a completely new workbook? There are ways to do this using menu options or right-clicking, but I prefer to stick to dragging and dropping as it's quick and you can see what you do.

Here's how:

1. Open the workbook that contains the sheet(s) you want to move or copy as well as the one that will receive the sheets. (This could, of course, be a new, blank workbook.)
2. Select the Window, Arrange command and click the option you want. (I prefer "tiled".)
3. Point to the tab of the worksheet you want to copy or move.
4. Hold down the [CTRL] key while you drag the worksheet to its new location. (If you want to move it, rather than copy, don't hold down the [CTRL] key!)
5. When the small page (which moves with the pointer) appears in the new workbook, release the mouse button.

By the way, if you select more than one sheet before you drag it to its new location, you end up with a copy of those sheets in its new location. (That is, as long as you remember to hold down the [CTRL] key!)

To select multiple sheets you might want to have another look at tip # 156: http://www.roem.co.uk/tip_156.html

Finally, due to popular demand I've scheduled another Excel with Excel seminar. See http://www.roem.co.uk/excel_with_excel.html for full details or give me a bell or drop me a line if you want to find out more.

Until next week.

PS I’m committed to sharing the best of what I know with others so please don’t keep me a secret. If you enjoyed today’s tip, please forward it to anyone you feel may benefit. Alternatively, feel free to reprint it (with full copyright and subscription information) in your newsletters and message boards.

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