How to Copy and Paste Formulas in Excel

Using Formula Paste Options

To copy and paste formulas in Excel, utilize the formula paste options to maintain or discard formatting. Choose to paste only the formula, or include the formula with its original formatting.

Copying Formulas with the Fill Handle

Excel's fill handle allows for quick formula replication to adjacent cells. Drag the fill handle across or down to copy a formula. Afterwards, verify and adjust cell references as needed.

Copying Down a Column

Drag the fill handle or double-click the plus sign on a cell's corner to copy a formula down an entire column. For Excel tables, formulas are automatically extended to all cells in a column.

Copying to Non-Adjacent Cells

To copy formulas to non-adjacent cells, use the copy and paste function. Employ absolute or mixed cell references to preserve the original references.

Using Functions and Features to Preserve References

Lock cell references with the F4 key or leverage the OFFSET function to adjust range references while copying. Alternatively, use Notepad or Excel's Find and Replace to copy formulas without altering references.

Handling Formulas Across Workbooks

When copying a table to a different workbook, replace formulas with their values to prevent reference errors. Note that Excel cannot copy by condition and moving a table across workbooks will break formula references.

Common Use Cases

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  Transferring complex financial models across multiple sheets without manual re-entry
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  Quickly duplicating data analysis procedures for new data sets
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  Efficiently creating multiple versions of a dataset for scenario analysis
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  Replicating formula-driven reports for different departments or projects
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  Updating large datasets with new formulas without altering the original data structure

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