When I have copied a range of cells in one worksheet, then right-click
on a row with the intention of inserting new rows, not the copied
cells, the right-click row menu shows only "Insert copied cells...".
I can work around this by selecting Insert Rows from the Insert menu
on the toolbar.

But I wonder: is there some way to tell Excel "forget about the
copied cells" before I right-click on the row?

I am using Office Excel 2003.

1. First, select any cell that is not part of the copied range.
2. Press the "Esc" key on your keyboard. This will deselect the copied range and remove the "marching ants" border around it.
3. Now, right-click on the row where you want to insert new rows. You should see the usual "Insert" options in the right-click menu, such as "Insert Rows" and "Insert Copied Cells".

By deselecting the copied range before right-clicking, you are telling Excel to forget about the copied cells and treat your right-click as a normal operation. This should work in all versions of Excel, including Excel 2003.

Try hitting the escape key on the keyboard.

" wrote:

When I have copied a range of cells in one worksheet, then right-click
on a row with the intention of inserting new rows, not the copied
cells, the right-click row menu shows only "Insert copied cells...".
I can work around this by selecting Insert Rows from the Insert menu
on the toolbar.

But I wonder: is there some way to tell Excel "forget about the
copied cells" before I right-click on the row?

I am using Office Excel 2003.

--

Dave Peterson

On Feb 18, 4:03 pm, Dave Peterson wrote:
" wrote:
But I wonder: is there some way to tell Excel "forget about the
copied cells" before I right-click on the row?

Try hitting the escape key on the keyboard.

Well, I did. But, duh, the key (no pun intended) is to press Esc in
the correct worksheet, namely the worksheet where the cells were
copied from. I pressed Esc in the worksheet where I wanted to insert
rows. Frankly, at that point, I did not remember in which other
worksheet I had inadvertently copied cells. Klunk! Maybe I should
ask: how can I copy cells from a worksheet to the brain? ;-)

Anyway, thanks.

I can hit esc to clear the clipboard from any sheet--and in any workbook.

I'm surprised that it didn't work for you.

" wrote:

On Feb 18, 4:03 pm, Dave Peterson wrote:
" wrote:
But I wonder: is there some way to tell Excel "forget about the
copied cells" before I right-click on the row?

Try hitting the escape key on the keyboard.

Well, I did. But, duh, the key (no pun intended) is to press Esc in
the correct worksheet, namely the worksheet where the cells were
copied from. I pressed Esc in the worksheet where I wanted to insert
rows. Frankly, at that point, I did not remember in which other
worksheet I had inadvertently copied cells. Klunk! Maybe I should
ask: how can I copy cells from a worksheet to the brain? ;-)

Anyway, thanks.

--

Dave Peterson

The Insert command becomes Insert Copied Cells if there's stuff on the clipboard. That's
even with the Edit - Insert (from the menu bar), or its shortcut, Ctrl +. Excel seems to
treat the clipboard as a very central, if temporary thing. Stuff doesn't stay on it long,
as you've probably noticed. Even pressing Enter will cause a paste, if there's stuff on the
clipboard. But you should be able to press Esc (even in the sheet in which you're trying to
do the insert) to clear the clipboard. Then the Insert command will work normally.
--
Earl Kiosterud
www.smokeylake.com
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When I have copied a range of cells in one worksheet, then right-click
on a row with the intention of inserting new rows, not the copied
cells, the right-click row menu shows only "Insert copied cells...".
I can work around this by selecting Insert Rows from the Insert menu
on the toolbar.

But I wonder: is there some way to tell Excel "forget about the
copied cells" before I right-click on the row?

I am using Office Excel 2003.

On Feb 18, 5:01 pm, Dave Peterson wrote:
I can hit esc to clear the clipboard from any sheet--and in any workbook.
I'm surprised that it didn't work for you.

My mistake again. I was pressing Esc while the right-click row menu
was open. Of course, the merely closes the menu. When I press Esc
when no menu is open, that does indeed clear the clipboard, even in
another worksheet.

Thanks again.

On Feb 18, 6:39 pm, "Earl Kiosterud" wrote:
But you should be able to press Esc (even in the sheet in which you're trying to
do the insert) to clear the clipboard.

Right. My mistake again.