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Home › Videos › How to duplicate data in Excel

How to duplicate data in Excel

Transcript 

In this lesson, we'll look at how to duplicate information in Excel. The most common way to duplicate information is to use copy and paste. We'll look at three options: using the buttons on the ribbon, using keyboard shortcuts, and using the right-click menu.
 
Let's take a look.
 
The most basic way to duplicate content in Excel is to select one or more cells, then click the copy button on the ribbon, move to another location, and click the paste button on the ribbon.
 
Notice that Excel highlights the cells that were copied with a moving dashed line, sometimes called "marching ants." This is a reminder that the copied information is still on the clipboard and can be pasted again. You can paste this information as many times as you like.
 
If you decide you don't want to copy, or you're finished copying, you can click the escape key to make the marching ants disappear.
 
In addition to the ribbon buttons, you can use keyboard shortcuts for copy and paste. Control-c to copy; control-v to paste.
 
Note that you can select more than one destination cell, and Excel will repeat the copied cells when they are pasted.
 
You can also right-mouse click to copy and paste.
 
Finally, you can duplicate entire rows and columns using copy and paste. Just select the row number or column letter before you copy.
 
Because columns and rows are very big objects, be sure you don't accidentally overwrite important information elsewhere on the worksheet.
 
Master Excel with practice. Download this worksheet (and dozens more) in our Core Excel course. Learn by doing.

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Dave Bruns

Hi - I'm Dave Bruns, and I run Exceljet with my wife, Lisa. Our goal is to help you work faster in Excel. We create short videos, and clear examples of formulas, functions, pivot tables, conditional formatting, and charts.

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