Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Using Copy and Paste for Formatting.
In other issues of ExcelTips you learn how to use the Format Painter to quickly and easily copy formatting between cells. Despite how handy it is, there may be times when you don't want to use the Format Painter. For instance, the Format Painter may not be visible at the top of the screen and it would be a hassle to display it just to copy a format. In instances like this, you can use copying and pasting to copy formats to a different cell or cell range.
To copy formatting using this method, you use techniques traditionally used when editing the contents of your worksheet:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2768) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Using Copy and Paste for Formatting.
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2021-04-20 14:28:52
Mark Schweim
This method doesn't seem to work though on cells with mixed character formatting. I have a spreadsheet at work made by someone else with text not underlined and I need to select the underline format so the inserted data appears underlined like the rest of the details area. But although the underlining shows correctly on the first sheet, copying and pasting to the other worksheets results in the Date copied from the first sheet where it appeared underlined not being underlined on the sheet it was pasted into even when selecting to paste formatting.
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: 
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