You need to make multiple Excel file copies to ensure that your data remains intact and avoid errors in case of modifications. You may need to learn specific steps to copy an entire Excel file. Also, how do you create a copy of a whole worksheet in a workbook? Follow along because this article will provide a complete guide on creating a copy of an Excel File.
How to Copy an Entire Excel Sheet both on Windows and on Mac
To make a live copy of an entire Excel file, be sure to adopt either of these three approaches;
Open the Workbook as a Copy in Excel
Below are steps to use;
Step 1: Open the Excel on your PC.
Step 2: Select "Open" in the left sidebar and then "Browse" as shown below.
Step 4: Move to the folder to find where your workbook is saved.
Step 5: Select your workbook, select the down-arrow icon next to "Open," and select "Open as Copy."
Excel makes a copy of your workbook and opens it in the app.
Use Excel’s Save As Option
This process allows you to retain any changes you've made in a new file unless you've previously used Excel's "Save" option to save those changes to the original file.
Here are the steps involved.
Step 1: Click on "File" in Excel's top-left corner.
Step 2: Choose "Save As" in the left sidebar and click "Browse" in the middle column.
Step 3: Open the folder where you want to save the copy of your workbook and click "Save."
Use File Manager
Here are the five steps to make a copy of your Excel workbook using your computer's file manager (File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac):
Step 1: Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) on your computer.
Step 2: Locate the Excel workbook you want to copy.
Step 3: Right-click on your workbook and Choose the "Copy" option from the context menu.
Step 4: Navigate to the folder where you want to save the copied file, right-click in the folder, and select "Paste."
How to create a Copy of an Excel File for Mac and Windows
There are two easy ways to copy an existing Excel file. Below is a comprehensive guide;
Duplicate a Sheet in Excel Multiple Times
This approach is exceptional because;
It is a quick and easy way to create backups of important data.
It enables you to compare data or perform "What-If" scenarios by making small changes to duplicate sheets while keeping the original intact.
Duplicating sheets helps maintain consistent formatting across multiple sheets, saving time on formatting tasks.
Steps involved;
Step 1: Select the sheet you wish to duplicate.
Step 2: Press the ‘Control’ Key for Windows or the Command key for Mac users.
Step 3: Move the sheet tab to the left or right to make the desired duplicates.
Duplicate a Worksheet in Excel with Formulas
This method is advantageous because
It preserves Complex Formulas: This method allows you to duplicate a sheet while keeping complex formulas,
Time and effort saving: saving you the time and effort of recreating them.
Steps:
Step 1: Use the method mentioned above to duplicate your desired sheet, ensuring all content is copied.
Step 2: Choose the copied sheet and click "Ctrl" + "H" for Windows or "Command" + "H" for Mac to open the "Find and Replace" box.
Step 3: In the "Find what" space, type (=).
Step 4: In the "Replace with" part type (=).
Step 5: Click "Replace All" to copy the formulas to the new sheet, updating cell references to the correct cells in the new location.
Comparison between the two methods
Duplicating a Sheet in Excel Multiple Times is ideal for creating backups, performing "What-If" scenarios, and maintaining consistent formatting across multiple sheets. It's quick and efficient when you need identical copies of a sheet with no formula preservation.
On the other hand, Duplicating a Sheet in Excel with Formulas is best when you want to preserve complex formulas, saving time and effort. It's useful for backup copies where retaining formula integrity is crucial or when working with intricate calculations.
How to Use Excel for Free? （WPS Office）
WPS Office is a powerful and free option allowing users to open, create, edit, and save Microsoft Office files, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. It offers full compatibility with Microsoft Office, making it an excellent choice for Windows and Mac users.
Steps to edit Word/Excel/Powerpoint in WPS:
To edit documents in WPS Office, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the document.
Step 2: Click the Edit button in the main toolbar, which may appear as a pencil icon, depending on your WPS version.
Step 3: Modify the PDF content as desired, including adding/removing text, images, or pages.
Step 4: Save your edited PDF by selecting File > Save from the main menu or using the Ctrl+S keyboard shortcut.
I have had an exceptional experience when using WPS Office. It offers a comprehensive suite of office tools, including Writer, Spreadsheets, and Presentation, making it suitable for various tasks.
Here are reasons why I will always choose it over Microsoft Office.
It has a free basic version and covers everyday office and study requirements, supporting various document formats.
WPS Premium offers advanced capabilities such as PDF editing and cloud collaboration, putting it in competition with Microsoft 365.
It is available on multiple platforms, ensuring users can seamlessly access and work on documents across devices.
WPS Office is ideal for those who need a feature-rich office suite but don't require the complete Microsoft Office package, offering value and functionality.
How to download the WPS Office for free?
Here are the steps to install WPS Office for free.
Step 1: Select a specific browser and search for the WPS Office official site.
Step 2: Press ‘Get store app’
Step 3: Click on ‘Open Microsoft Store’ as shown below.
Step 4: Press ‘Get’ to download the software.
Step 5: Downloading begins right away.
Step 6: Click ‘Open’ to open the software.
Step 7: Press on ‘Agree and continue’. Now, you will be in a position to access the software.
Step 8: Now, you can use the software as you wish. We have an option for documents, spreadsheets, PDFs, etc.
FAQs
How do I automatically copy from one Excel sheet to another?
To automatically copy data from one Excel sheet to another, you can use five easy methods:
Paste Link Option: Link specific cells from one sheet to another, and changes will auto-update.
Use the + Symbol Option: Add a "+" symbol to linked cells in one sheet, and they will copy to another upon pressing ENTER.
Use the +Sheet(X)! ((XY) Formula: Utilize the formula "+Sheet(X)! ((XY)" to specify which data to copy from one sheet to another.
Copy and Paste Option: Highlight cells, copy (CTRL+C), navigate to the target sheet, and paste (CTRL+V).
Use Worksheet Reference: Cell references (e.g., "=SheetName!CellRange") to auto-transfer data between sheets.
How do I copy an Excel spreadsheet into another without losing formatting?
To copy an Excel spreadsheet into another without losing formatting, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open both the source and destination workbooks.
Step 2: In the source workbook, select the entire sheet by clicking the diagonal arrow button between the row numbers and column letters.
Step 3: Right-click and choose "Copy."
Step 4: In the destination workbook, right-click the cell where you want to paste the data.
Step 5: Choose "Paste" from the context menu. Formatting should be retained.
Summary
This descriptive guide explains various methods to create a copy of an existing Excel file efficiently. It highlights WPS Office as a powerful, free alternative for creating, editing, and saving Microsoft Office files. WPS Office offers compatibility, a user-friendly interface, and a range of features, making it an excellent choice for users seeking a cost-effective office suite.
