Selective pasting with Format Painter

[Blue Max]

We have seen many threads recommending the Format Painter be used to copy
specific formats or styles to other cells. Unfortunately, we cannot find
how to specify which specific attributes are copied or which are pasted?
Does the Format Painter only copy ALL formats (color, font, outline, number,
conditional format, etc.) or can it be used to copy a specific single
attribute of the format to other cells?

 

[Bernie Deitrick]

Format painter pastes all formats - if you want some subset of formatting, then you would need to
use a button with a custom macro, or simply use those buttons that control the aspect of formatting
that you want to change, without using copy or format painter.

HTH,
Bernie
MS Excel MVP

 

[Blue Max]

Thanks, Bernie. It helps to have a definitive confirmation. Albeit, this
really represents a true weakness, in our opinion.

We have used many applications that allow tools, similar to the Format
Painter, to paste only the desired attributes. In most cases, the user
simply selects a setup or configuration dialog that allows them to select
which attributes will be pasted to the destination cells - quick and simple!
Wish Microsoft had provided the same flexibility.

Thank you again for the reply.

***********

 

[Ajay]

Thanks, Bernie.  It helps to have a definitive confirmation. Albeit, this
really represents a true weakness, in our opinion.

We have used many applications that allow tools, similar to the Format
Painter, to paste only the desired attributes.  In most cases, the user
simply selects a setup or configuration dialog that allows them to select
which attributes will be pasted to the destination cells - quick and simple!
Wish Microsoft had provided the same flexibility.

Thank you again for the reply.

***********






- Show quoted text -

Use "Special Paste", this should do what you want

 

[Blue Max]

Thanks, Ajay, but 'Special Paste' does not include options for conditional
formatting, data validation, or separate formatting attributes such as
alignment only, font only, borders only, fill only, protection only,
etcetera (Note that many of these options mirror the tabs in the 'Format
Cell' dialog).

In our opinion, both Format Painter and Special Paste should have a dialog
(just like special paste) that has check boxes (not mutually exclusive
options) for each commonly identifiable INDIVIDUAL attribute so that the
user can select individual attributes in any combination.

Thanks,
Richard

*************************

Thanks, Bernie. It helps to have a definitive confirmation. Albeit, this
really represents a true weakness, in our opinion.

We have used many applications that allow tools, similar to the Format
Painter, to paste only the desired attributes. In most cases, the user
simply selects a setup or configuration dialog that allows them to select
which attributes will be pasted to the destination cells - quick and
simple!
Wish Microsoft had provided the same flexibility.

Thank you again for the reply.

***********
message





- Show quoted text -

Use "Special Paste", this should do what you want

 

[Ajay]

Thanks, Ajay, but 'Special Paste' does not include options for conditional
formatting, data validation, or separate formatting attributes such as
alignment only, font only, borders only, fill only, protection only,
etcetera (Note that many of these options mirror the tabs in the 'Format
Cell' dialog).

In our opinion, both Format Painter and Special Paste should have a dialog
(just like special paste) that has check boxes (not mutually exclusive
options) for each commonly identifiable INDIVIDUAL attribute so that the
user can select individual attributes in any combination.

Thanks,
Richard








Use "Special Paste", this should do what you want- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

In the special paste, if you choose Paste as Formats then it pastes
only formats (including conditional formatting). If you need to paste
only "Data Validation" then you can shoose Validation in the special
paste wizard. If you need both things (conditional formatting and
validation). Then you can use special paste twice, once as "Formats"
and second time as "Validation". Hope, I am clear.

 

[Blue Max]

Thank you for the recommendations, Ajay. I think I understand what you are
saying, but your solution still does not allow us to paste individual
attributes selectively, other than cell validation (which is a separate
option on the menu).

For example, if we use paste special 'Formats' to copy just the conditional
formats, how do we get rid of all the other formatting (lines, fills,
alignment, font, etc) that also get pasted along with the conditional
format?

The heart of this enhancement request is to allow users to selectively paste
(or paint) a single attribute, or any combination thereof, to the
destination cells.

Thanks,
Richard

************

Thanks, Ajay, but 'Special Paste' does not include options for conditional
formatting, data validation, or separate formatting attributes such as
alignment only, font only, borders only, fill only, protection only,
etcetera (Note that many of these options mirror the tabs in the 'Format
Cell' dialog).

In our opinion, both Format Painter and Special Paste should have a dialog
(just like special paste) that has check boxes (not mutually exclusive
options) for each commonly identifiable INDIVIDUAL attribute so that the
user can select individual attributes in any combination.

Thanks,
Richard

message







Use "Special Paste", this should do what you want- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

In the special paste, if you choose Paste as Formats then it pastes
only formats (including conditional formatting). If you need to paste
only "Data Validation" then you can shoose Validation in the special
paste wizard. If you need both things (conditional formatting and
validation). Then you can use special paste twice, once as "Formats"
and second time as "Validation". Hope, I am clear.