Sometimes I get the paste special where I can select 'Value'. Other times I
get a paste special that only gives me a list of types of files. What causes
this?

The reason you are seeing two different paste special screens in Excel is because the type of data you are copying and pasting can vary.

When you copy data from one location and paste it into another, Excel tries to match the format of the original data as closely as possible.

Copying and Pasting within Excel

1. If you are copying and pasting within the same workbook or between workbooks that are both open in Excel, you will typically see the paste special screen that allows you to select 'Value' along with other options such as formatting, formulas, and more.
2. This is because Excel recognizes that you are copying data within the same program and wants to give you the most options for how to paste the data.

Copying and Pasting into Another Program

1. However, if you are copying data from Excel and pasting it into another program such as Word or PowerPoint, you may see a different paste special screen that only gives you a list of file types.
2. This is because the other program may not be able to recognize the formatting options available in Excel, so it only gives you the option to paste the data as a file type that it can recognize.

To summarize, the type of paste special screen you see in Excel depends on the type of data you are copying and where you are pasting it. If you are copying and pasting within Excel, you will typically see the full paste special screen with multiple options. If you are pasting into another program, you may only see a limited list of file types to choose from.

"NewToExcel" wrote:
Sometimes I get the paste special where I can select 'Value'.
Other times I get a paste special that only gives me a list of
types of files. What causes this?

In my experience, when I paste-special from one workbook to another, I get
the first paste-special menu when both workbooks are open in the same
instance of Excel; and I get the second paste-special menu when they are open
in two different instances of Excel.

I'm never very sure when two workbooks are open in the same or different
instances of Excel. To make certain that they are in the same instance,
after I open one workbook, I use the File New or File Open option to
access the second workbook.

I think (but I'm not sure) that two workbooks are open in the same instance
of Excel when I click on their file names in a file folder. But when I click
on Excel icon on the Quick Launch toolbar or in a folder, I think (but I'm
not sure) that I get different instances of Excel.

Joe

To prevent multiple instances of Excel when d-click on file names.

In Options make sure "ignore other applications that use DDE" is unchecked.

If no joy with that................

I would suggest you re-register Excel

Close Excel first and On the Windows Taskbar

StartRun "excel.exe /regserver"(no quotes)OK.

See the space between exe and /regserver

You might have to designate a full path to excel.exe.

In that case StartRun "C:\yourpath\excel.exe" /regserver(quotes
required)OK


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

On Sat, 17 Apr 2010 16:28:01 -0700, Joe User <joeu2004 wrote:

"NewToExcel" wrote:
Sometimes I get the paste special where I can select 'Value'.
Other times I get a paste special that only gives me a list of
types of files. What causes this?

In my experience, when I paste-special from one workbook to another, I get
the first paste-special menu when both workbooks are open in the same
instance of Excel; and I get the second paste-special menu when they are open
in two different instances of Excel.

I'm never very sure when two workbooks are open in the same or different
instances of Excel. To make certain that they are in the same instance,
after I open one workbook, I use the File New or File Open option to
access the second workbook.

I think (but I'm not sure) that two workbooks are open in the same instance
of Excel when I click on their file names in a file folder. But when I click
on Excel icon on the Quick Launch toolbar or in a folder, I think (but I'm
not sure) that I get different instances of Excel.

Thanks to Joe and Gord!! Joe had the cause and Gord had the solution.
Appreciate the help!


"Gord Dibben" wrote:

Joe

To prevent multiple instances of Excel when d-click on file names.

In Options make sure "ignore other applications that use DDE" is unchecked.

If no joy with that................

I would suggest you re-register Excel

Close Excel first and On the Windows Taskbar

StartRun "excel.exe /regserver"(no quotes)OK.

See the space between exe and /regserver

You might have to designate a full path to excel.exe.

In that case StartRun "C:\yourpath\excel.exe" /regserver(quotes
required)OK


Gord Dibben MS Excel MVP

On Sat, 17 Apr 2010 16:28:01 -0700, Joe User <joeu2004 wrote:

"NewToExcel" wrote:
Sometimes I get the paste special where I can select 'Value'.
Other times I get a paste special that only gives me a list of
types of files. What causes this?

In my experience, when I paste-special from one workbook to another, I get
the first paste-special menu when both workbooks are open in the same
instance of Excel; and I get the second paste-special menu when they are open
in two different instances of Excel.

I'm never very sure when two workbooks are open in the same or different
instances of Excel. To make certain that they are in the same instance,
after I open one workbook, I use the File New or File Open option to
access the second workbook.

I think (but I'm not sure) that two workbooks are open in the same instance
of Excel when I click on their file names in a file folder. But when I click
on Excel icon on the Quick Launch toolbar or in a folder, I think (but I'm
not sure) that I get different instances of Excel.

.