paste into multiple columns

  • Thread starter Thread starter David Wang
  • Start date Start date
D

David Wang

Hi there,

I wanted to paste the following data of four numbers into four
consecutive columns in a row

-25.14462 -24.41551 -11.52499 26.46024

so that each number will occupy one column. Since I need to do such a
task many times, I hate to use text import wizard. So my question is
if there is a quick and dirty trick for this (ideally w/o invoking
mouse clicks).

Thanks,
David
 
One of the "features" that lots of people hate is that excel remembers the
settings from your last data|text to columns.

So if you do this one time, then the next time you paste those 4 values into the
worksheet, excel will parse it into 4 different columns using the same settings
(space delimited) that you used before.

This can be a pain, too.

And excel will forget the settings if you close and reopen excel.
 
One of the "features" that lots of people hate is that excel remembers the
settings from your last data|text to columns.

So if you do this one time, then the next time you paste those 4 values into the
worksheet, excel will parse it into 4 different columns using the same settings
(space delimited) that you used before.

This can be a pain, too.

And excel will forget the settings if you close and reopen excel.
Click to expand...

Thank for your response, Dave!

I don't why, but it doesn't work for me. I

copy the data into the clipboard;
choose a cell;
CTRL+v to paste, now all four numbers are in the first cell and a
paste icon shows up, click the the icon and choose "use text import
wizard..." to spread the numbers into four consecutive cells (after a
few clicks);
now copy another four numbers into the clipboard;
choose another cell;
CTRL+v to paste, all four numbers are still in a single cell!

This is Excel 2003 on a Window XP PC.

D.
 
I copied your 4 numbers in your message.

I selected a cell--but not in edit mode--just selected.
I pasted.
everything is in 1 cell.
I ran data|text to columns, delimited by space.

I selected another cell
and I pasted again.
4 Values in individual cells.

I'm guessing that you were editing the cell--kind of like pasting into the
formula bar.
 
Hi,

You could copy all the data into one column and then do the Data, Text to
Columns command once on the entire column.
 
Hi,

You could copy all the data into one column and then do the Data, Text to
Columns command once on the entire column.
Click to expand...

That does the trick. Thanks, Shane and Dave!

D,
 
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