Excel: Using Skip Blanks Option in Paste Special Command

ID: Q61427

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 2.1, 3.0, 4.0
Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 2.2, 3.0, 4.0
Microsoft Excel for OS/2, version 3.0

SUMMARY

The Skip Blanks option in the Paste Special dialog box on the Edit menu affects the area being pasted into. It does not affect the copied selection itself.

If the range of cells that was copied contains a blank cell, that cell will not erase information in the cell being pasted over if Skip Blanks is selected.

MORE INFORMATION

For example:


   A1:   25   B1:     C1: Text
   A2:   35   B2:     C2: Text
   A3:        B3:     C3: Text
   A4:   15   B4:     C4: Text
   A5:        B5:     C5: Text

If cells A1:A5 are copied and then pasted normally into cells C1:C5, the contents of A1:A5 completely replace the contents of C1:C5.

If A1:A5 were copied and then pasted into C1:C5 using Edit Paste Special with the Skip Blanks option checked, C1:C5 would appear as follows:


   A1:   25   B1:     C1: 25
   A2:   35   B2:     C2: 35
   A3:        B3:     C3: Text
   A4:   15   B4:     C4: 15
   A5:        B5:     C5: Text

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Excel Reference," version 2.2 for the Macintosh, pages 218-219

"Microsoft Excel Reference," version 2.x for Windows, page 234

"Microsoft Excel User's Guide," version 3.0 for the Macintosh, page 153

"Microsoft Excel User's Guide," version 3.0 for Windows, page 159

"Microsoft Excel User's Guide 1," version 4.0, page 191

Additional query words: 2.0 2.00 2.01 2.1 2.20 2.21 3.0

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