You receive an error message when you use the Paste Special command in Excel (176838)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office Excel 2003
  • Microsoft Excel 2002
  • Microsoft Excel 2000
  • Microsoft Excel 2001 for Mac
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
  • Microsoft Excel X for Mac
This article was previously published under Q176838

SYMPTOMS

When you try to use the Paste Special command in the versions of Microsoft Excel that are listed in the "Applies to" section, you may receive the following error message:
This operation requires the merged cells to be identically sized.

CAUSE

This problem may occur if both of the following conditions are true:
  • You copy data from a range of cells that contains merged cells.
  • You try to paste the values only (on the Edit menu, click Paste Special, and then click Values) on the same sheet that you copied the values from.

WORKAROUND

To copy the contents of merged cells and paste their values, you must first unmerge the cells. To work around this problem, follow these steps:
  1. Select the merged cells that are in the range that you want to copy.
  2. On the Format menu, click Cells, and then click the Alignment tab.
  3. Click to clear the Merge cells check box, and then click OK.

    Note the range of cells that you selected.
  4. Select the entire range the you want to copy.
  5. On the Edit menu, click Copy.
  6. Select the range of cells where you want to paste the values.
  7. On the Edit menu, click Paste Special.

    Click Values, and then click OK.
  8. Select the cells that you noted in step 3.
  9. On the Format menu, click Cells, and then click the Alignment tab.
  10. Click the Merge cells check box, and then click OK.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/27/2006
Keywords:kbformat kberrmsg kbprb KB176838
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