How do I paste into merged cells?

Question

Level 1

18 points

How do I paste into merged cells?

I have created a spreadsheet that includes some merged cells. I want to paste some information into them and across other cells in that row at the same time. When I paste the information, however, the merged cells are split and the data that are intended for columns beside the merged cell are pasted in the separate columns that make up the merged cell.

In other words, my third cell is actually composed of table columns C-F. However, because it is merged, I would expect it to function as a single cell. So I copy 6 columns of information, try to paste them into 6 cells (one of which is the merged one, C-F), and instead of it pasting into cells A, B, C-F (the merged one), G, H, & I, all of the data ends up pasting into A, B, C, D, E, and F, which defeats the purpose of merging the cells entirely.

Is there a setting I can change to make this work as expected?

Thanks

DLM

iWork '09-OTHER

Posted on Jun 25, 2012 11:22 AM

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Answer 1

Jun 25, 2012 12:00 PM in response to d moon

DLM,

The best advice I can give you is to begin now thinking about how you could create this document without the need for either merging or splitting cells. With the Numbers' unique abilities to make multiple small special-purpose tables and to add Text Boxes for annotation, and with the ability to display the Table Name at the top of the table, merging and splitting is less imperative. Further, your ability to Sort and do other maintenance tasks on your document will be severely limited if you Merge and Split.

Yes, I'm talking around the question, but I think it's in your best interest.

Jerry

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Answer 2

Badunit

Level 7

30,708 points

Jun 27, 2012 4:40 PM in response to d moon

Interesting problem. One thing I have found that seems to work is to select and copy the data, run a script that converts the clipboard to text, select the cells to paste to (all of them, not just the one where it will start), then 'paste and match style'. The script is a simple one:

set the clipboard to (the clipboardastext)

Another option would be to use TextEdit as an intermediary. Copy, Paste & Match Style into TextEdit, Copy, then, in Numbers, select all the cells to be pasted to and Paste & Match Style.

Not great solutions but that's all I got right now.

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