XL: Err Msg "Command Cannot be use on Multiple Selections"

 Last reviewed: February 2, 1998
Article ID: Q100715
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.x, 3.x, 4.x, 5.0, 5.0c
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 2.x, 3.x, 4.x, 5.0, 5.0a
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows NT, version 5.0
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, when you attempt to copy nonadjacent cell selections, you may receive one of the following error messages. 

   Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows and 
   Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
   ------------------------------------

   That command cannot be used on multiple selections.

   Microsoft Excel Versions 4.0, 5.0 and 7.0
   -----------------------------------------

   Cannot do that command on nonadjacent selections

   Microsoft Excel Versions 3.0 and Earlier
   ----------------------------------------

   Can't do that command on a multiple selection

CAUSE

These error messages may occur when your cell or range selections are in different columns or different rows. You can, however, copy and paste nonadjacent ranges without an error message if your selection contains any of the following:

  • Multiple rows within the same column, for example, A1, A3, A5
  • Multiple columns within the same row, for example, A2, C2, E2
  • Multiple rows and columns within the same columns and rows, for example, A1, C1, A3, C3, A5, C5

NOTE: This message also occurs if nonadjacent sheets are selected in a Microsoft Excel 5.0 or later workbook, and you are pasting to another workbook.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

When you make a nonadjacent selection and then click Copy on the Edit menu, Microsoft Excel tries to identify an outline type of the selection. Because Microsoft Excel "slides" the ranges together and pastes them as a single rectangle, a contiguous rectangle must remain if the rows and columns in between the selected cells are collapsed or set to a size of 0.

For example if you wanted to perform an operation on the following sample data 

   A1: 1   B1:     C1: 2
   A2:     B2:     C2:
   A3: 3   B3:     C3: 4
because a contiguous rectangle remains if you were to collapse row 2 and column B, you can individually select cells A1, C1, A3, C3 and copy them without error. [To make a nonadjacent selection, hold down the CTRL key (or the COMMAND key if you are using Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh) while selecting additional cells or ranges.]

This selection will be pasted as a single rectangle: 

   A5: 1  B5: 2
   A6: 3  B6: 4
However, you cannot add cell B2 to this nonadjacent selection, because Microsoft Excel cannot determine which direction you want the cells to slide. For example, B2 could slide between A1 and A3, C1 and C3, A1 and C1 or A3 and C3. This would result in rectangles of varying shapes and sizes. Because you cannot designate how you want the rectangle arranged, Microsoft Excel returns the error message. In this case, the cell range must be a single selection, or the cells must be copied individually.

For additional information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q141763
   TITLE     : XL Err Msg: "Cannot Use That Command on Multiple
               Selections"

   ARTICLE-ID: Q119806
   TITLE     : ACC2: Exporting Data to MS Excel 5.0 or 95 Twice
               Causes Error

Additional query words: fails errmsg discontiguous
export file excel access error
Keywords : kberrmsg
Version : WINDOWS:2.0,3.0,4.0,5.0,7.0,97; MACINTOSH:2.0,3.0,4.0,5.0,98
Platform : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb

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Last reviewed: February 2, 1998
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