excel command 'c' copy functionality not working

Question

Level 1

15 points

excel command 'c' copy functionality not working

I have OSX 10.8.5 and Excel 14.3.8

I used to be able to push command c from one cell and then command v to paste the data in another cell, now command c doesnt work,

when looking in the edit menu there is no shortcut for copy, and command c is linked to 'copy to scrapbook' , I can right click and select copy and then the command v for paste works. I would rather not use the mouse for that. is there a fix or do i have to uninstall and reinstall office and just not get any updates?

if i push command c on a cell and then command v in a different cell it will paste whatever i last copied, maybe a file name, text from earlier, a song, but not the thing i tries to copy from excel

if i havent explained this well please ask questions as this is driving me nuts.

excel-OTHER, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Dec 1, 2013 9:34 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 8, 2014 1:49 AM in response to djrocketodd

I just did a clean install of Mavericks and installed my copy of english Office 2011. I have the same issue with Excel! Driving me nuts.

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Answer 2

djrocketodd Author

Level 1

15 points

Jan 8, 2014 2:37 AM in response to johannnnn

I did finally get it back to workin, bear with me because i dont exactly recall what helped, but basically it is stuck in the mode where excel is "copying to scrapbook" some function of office i know nothing about, instead of regular copy. i tried googling how to switch modes, but i am pretty sure i hit command shift c, or control command c, and it somehow switched back to normal copy when i use command c now..

hopefully you can figure it out. but for sure it is excel stuck in copying to scrapbook instead of the regular copy function.

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Answer 3

shishdim

Level 1

9 points

Jan 8, 2014 5:34 PM in response to djrocketodd

Let us know if you remember how you were able to fix it. 🙂 I am trying to figure it out right now. Quite annoying problem..

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Answer 4

shishdim

Level 1

9 points

Jan 8, 2014 5:41 PM in response to djrocketodd

OK, worked for me too: shift + commnad + C fixed it, now Command + C will copy and Command + V will paste. But Edit menue looks totally weird now (see below)! I hope they will work this bug out sometime soon.

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Answer 5

Mar 8, 2014 3:11 AM in response to djrocketodd

I had the same problem, which I had been shutting down my mac to fix the error but it kept coming back, so I decided to search the web for a solution too. I followed the above advice and it fixed it but I also have the same messed up menu. An alternative method would be to use the Customize Keyboard in the Tools Menu, select the Edit Category and then Copy (or Paste), add a new shortcut by just doing the action, i.e. Cmd + C or Cmd + V

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Answer 6

May 8, 2014 10:03 AM in response to shishdim

I am so grateful to find this thread because I really thought I was losing my mind. I tried this solution and then lost the ability to do command V. So I did the same thing and got that back. But my menu looks different than yours. X is supposed to be for cut! I am so confused. I'm going to make sure my OSX is updated and my Office is updated, just after I do a full backup. This is costing me so much time and I don't understand what prompted this change.

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Answer 7

May 8, 2014 2:16 PM in response to jennmajor

I've reinstalled my MS Office and that seems to have resolved the Copy/Paste issue, as well as many other issues. Not sure exactly why, but it's all right at this point.

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Answer 8

May 14, 2014 8:48 AM in response to djrocketodd

I've had this problem multiple times, but it seems to reset for me just by restarting Excel without changing anything...

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Answer 9

Aug 29, 2014 9:10 AM in response to Karlosaal

Thanks karlosaal! Works like a charm.

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Answer 10

Sep 24, 2014 5:43 AM in response to djrocketodd

This is stupid that we are all struggling with this. I have the very same problem. I tried cmd shift c, now I can copy but I cannot paste!

I've switched to MAC two weeks ago. I thought it was Windows which had these annoying system settings that you could't find and change but it is the same in MAC. and there is nobody helping here from MAC or Office 2011 for MAC.

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Answer 11

Sep 24, 2014 5:53 AM in response to djrocketodd

I did the cmd shift c. It saved the copy function (cmd c) but messed up the copy paste menu; I couldn't paste with cmd v. I did it again (cmd shift c), now I can copy with cmd c and paste with cmd v. so, back to normal.

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Answer 12

Lanny

Level 6

13,183 points

Sep 24, 2014 6:56 AM in response to SutDoktorum

This is a Mountain Lion forum, perhaps your issue would be better answered if posted to a more appropriate forum at Microsoft.

http://www.microsoft.com/mac/product-feedback

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Answer 13

djrocketodd Author

Level 1

15 points

Nov 19, 2014 4:46 PM in response to djrocketodd

This happens every time i install office on a new computer, i usually have to hit cmd shift c twice and its back working.. my menu looks a little different, not as bad as shishdim but i checked the functionality and now i can paste from within excel, from other programs and i can copy out of excel to other programs. hopefully this helps everyone !!

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Answer 14

sdipietr

Level 1

4 points

Jan 27, 2015 3:45 PM in response to djrocketodd

This happened to me too. FIXED. I tried Cmd shift C but it was still wierd.

I then went to scrapbook and found some old stuff I put there from Powerpoint. I just clicked on the stuff in the scrapbook and deleted. All came back to normal instantly.

To find the scrapbook in excel go to View Scrapbook

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Answer 15

fmcjo

Level 1

8 points

Apr 15, 2015 12:52 PM in response to Great Robservation

Yes same thing done here : quit excel and open it again ==> everythings okay 😉

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