Excel: Data Extract Leaves Old Formatting Beneath Extraction

• Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0, 4.0a, 5.0
• Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 2.x, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0

SYMPTOMS

When you choose the Data Extract command (or the Advanced Filter command in version 5.0), Microsoft Excel clears all data from the Extract range before it pastes the extracted information. Microsoft Excel does not clear formatting from the extract range, so cells beneath extracted data may contain old formatting.

Newly extracted records replace formatting in the extract range, but if the new records do not extend as far as previously extracted records, cells beneath the new records will contain formatting from previous extractions.

NOTE: This information applies to Number, Font, Alignment, and Border formatting in Microsoft Excel versions 2.2 and 3.0, and also to Styles and Patterns in Microsoft Excel 3.0.

WORKAROUND

1. Select previously extracted data before choosing the Extract (or Advanced Filter) command. (To access Advanced Filter, first choose Filter from the Data menu.)

2. From the Edit menu, choose Clear.

3. Select the All option and choose OK.

REFERENCES

"User's Guide" for the Macintosh, version 3.0, pages 381-384