XL2000: Range.PasteSpecial Changes Selection

ID: Q213542

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Excel 2000

SYMPTOMS

If you use a line of code in a Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications macro that is similar to the following


 Range(<cell address>).PasteSpecial

where <cell address> is a range of cells, the active selection changes to the range that is specified by cell address.

This behavior is different from behavior in earlier versions of Microsoft Excel. Versions of Microsoft Excel earlier than Excel 97 do not change the selection when this line is executed. The macro may not produce the desired results if the selection must remain unchanged after the macro executes the PasteSpecial method.

CAUSE

In Microsoft Excel 5.0 and 7.0, whether the PasteSpecial method leaves the selection on the pasted cells depends on the object to which the PasteSpecial method is applied. If PasteSpecial is applied to the ActiveCell or Selection objects, the selection changes. However, if the PasteSpecial method is applied to a Range object, the selection does not change.

For consistency, this behavior changed in Microsoft Excel. When the macro executes the PasteSpecial method, the selection changes to the pasted cells in all cases.

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel.

WORKAROUND

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact a Microsoft Certified Solution Provider or the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about Microsoft Certified Solution Providers, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/mcsp/

For more information about the support options available from Microsoft, please see the following page on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/overview/overview.asp

To restore the selection after the macro executes a PasteSpecial method, store the selection in a variable before the macro executes the PasteSpecial method, and then select that range after the PasteSpecial method is completed. The following sample macro illustrates how to do this:


   Sub CopyAndPaste()

       Range("A1:B5").Copy                 ' Copy cells A1:A5
       Set rng = Selection                 ' Store the selection
       Range("D1").PasteSpecial xlValues   ' Perform the PasteSpecial
       rng.Select                          ' Reselect the range

   End Sub

Additional query words: 9.0 9.00 Paste Special XL2000

Keywords : kbprg kbdta kbdtacode KbVBA xlvbmigrate
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb