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 How to paste external content to Excel always match destination formatting?

Author Xiaoyang Last modified

When copy and paste data from other external applications to worksheet, Excel will paste the data with the original formatting it used by default. If you need the pasted data using the own format of your used worksheet, you should choose Match Destination Formatting option to your need when you paste. But, if you need to apply this option frequently, I can help you set this option as default when you using Ctrl +V to paste data.

Paste external content to worksheet always match destination formatting with Excel Options

Paste external content to worksheet always match destination formatting with VBA code


Paste external content to worksheet always match destination formatting with Excel Options

To make Excel paste the data with destination formatting, you can add a special command to your Quick Access Toolbar.

1. Click File > Options, and in the Excel Options dialog box:

  • (1.) Click Quick Access Toolbar in the left pane;
  • (2.) Then choose All Commands under Choose commands from drop down list;
  • (3.) And then scroll down and choose Paste and Match Destination Formatting in the list box;
  • (4.) Then click Add >> button to add this command to the Customize Quick Access Toolbar.

a screenshot of adding the Paste and Match Destination Formatting command to the Quick Access Toobar

2. After adding this command, then click OK button to close this dialog box.

3. And now, the Paste and Match Destination Formatting has been added to the Customize Quick Access Toolbar, see screenshot:

a screenshot showng the Paste and Match Destination Formatting command on the Quick Access Toobar

And when you paste the data from other application, you just need to click the Paste and Match Destination Formatting button in the Quick Access Toolbar, the content will be pasted to the sheet matching the destination formatting of your worksheet.

Note: This method is not applied to Excel 2007.

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Paste external content to worksheet always match destination formatting with VBA code

You can also set the Match Destination Formatting as the default paste option when you using Ctrl + V with the following VBA code.

1. Hold down the ALT + F11 keys, and it opens the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.

2. Click Insert > Module, and paste the following code in the Module Window.

VBA code: Set Match Destination Formatting as the default paste

Sub PasteWithDestinationFormatting()
ActiveCell.PasteSpecial (xlPasteValues)
End Sub

3. And then save and close this dialog, then press Alt + F8 keys to open the Macro dialog. In the Macro dialog, select the code name you created in step 2, and click Options button, then in the appeared Macro Options dialog, enter v under Shortcut key section, see screenshot:

a screenshot of assigning a shortcut key to the macro

4. Then click OK in the Macro Options dialog, and close the Macro dialog box.

And now, when you paste your data from external application into the worksheet with Ctrl + V, the data will be pasted as Match Destination Formatting by default.


Related article:

How to set paste values as default paste when using Ctrl + V in Excel?


Demo: Paste external content to Excel always match destination formatting

 
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