Leave out quotes when copying from cell

Why Are Quotes Showing Up When Copying From Excel?

📊 Excel is a powerful tool for organizing data and performing calculations. But sometimes, when you try to copy a cell and paste it into another program like Notepad, those pesky double-quotes are automatically added. 😒 This can be frustrating, especially if you're trying to manipulate the data or use it in another context where the quotes are unwanted. So, let's dive into the problem and find some easy solutions to keep those quotes from showing up!

The Problem at Hand 🔍

🔹 Problem: When copying a cell from Excel outside of the program, double-quotes are added automatically. 🔹 Details: It seems to be specific to Excel 2007 on a Windows 7 machine. When you have a cell with a formula containing CHAR(9), which represents a tab, the quotes appear when you paste the cell into another program.

Understanding the Output 💡

In order to find a solution, it's important to understand why this is happening. Let's take a closer look at the example you provided:

="1"&CHAR(9)&"SOME NOTES FOR LINE 1."&CHAR(9)&"2"&CHAR(9)&"SOME NOTES FOR LINE 2."

In Excel, the output in the cell displays as:

1SOME NOTES FOR LINE 1.2SOME NOTES FOR LINE 2.

But when you copy the cell to another program, such as Notepad, the output looks like this:

"1  SOME NOTES FOR LINE 1.  2     SOME NOTES FOR LINE 2."

Notice the tabs created by CHAR(9) are preserved, which is a good thing. However, the double-quotes are added before and after the text. Now, let's move on to the solutions!

Solution 1: Paste Values Only ✂️

One simple solution to avoid the double-quotes is to paste the values only, instead of the entire cell. Here's how you can do it:

1. Select the cell(s) you want to copy.

2. Right-click and choose "Copy" or press Ctrl + C.

3. Go to the program where you want to paste the values (e.g., Notepad).

4. Right-click and choose "Paste Special" or press Ctrl + Alt + V.

5. In the "Paste Special" dialog box, select "Values" and click "OK".

By pasting only the values, you'll get rid of the quotes and keep the actual data intact.

Solution 2: Remove Double-Quotes ✏️

If you want to keep the formatting and formulas intact while getting rid of the quotes, you can use a simple Excel formula. Follow these steps:

1. In a new cell, enter the formula =SUBSTITUTE(A1,CHAR(34),""), assuming the cell with the unwanted quotes is A1. Adjust accordingly if needed.

2. Copy the formula down to apply it to other cells if necessary.

3. Copy the results and paste them into the desired program. Voila! No more quotes!

This formula uses the SUBSTITUTE function to replace the double-quotes (represented by CHAR(34)) with nothing, effectively removing them.

Let's Put an End to Those Quotes! ✅

Now that you have two easy solutions to tackle this annoying quote issue, it's time to put them into action. Whether you choose to paste values only or utilize the SUBSTITUTE function, you'll be able to copy your Excel data without those unwanted quotes cluttering your clipboard!

🌟 Call to Action: Give these solutions a try and let us know how it goes! Have you encountered other Excel quirks that you'd like us to address? Share your experiences and questions in the comments below. Let's excel together! 🚀