Duplicating Drawing Objects In Excel

by Jacky Chou
Updated on

Key Takeaways:

  • Duplicating drawing objects in Excel is an efficient way to save time when creating complex spreadsheets.
  • Select the object to duplicate by clicking on it, or by using the arrow keys to navigate to it.
  • Copy the object using the “Ctrl+C” keyboard shortcut or by right-clicking and selecting “Copy”.
  • Paste the object using the “Ctrl+V” keyboard shortcut or by right-clicking and selecting “Paste”.
  • Use keyboard shortcuts such as “Ctrl+D” or “Ctrl+R” to quickly duplicate objects in Excel.

Are your Excel drawings taking up too much time? If you want an easier way to duplicate objects, this article is for you! With just a few clicks, you can quickly duplicate drawing objects in Excel, saving you time and frustration.

Duplicating Drawing Objects in Excel

Start by selecting the object to be duplicated. Copy it right away. Paste it on the worksheet. There’s a quicker way. Keyboard shortcuts make it simpler. Duplicate objects in Excel. Different shapes and sizes. Save time and effort.

Duplicating Drawing Objects in Excel-Duplicating Drawing Objects in Excel,

Image credits: chouprojects.com by James Woodhock

Selecting the Object to Duplicate

When duplicating drawing objects in Excel, the first step is to select the object that needs to be duplicated. This process is vital as it will determine the accuracy of the duplication process.

To select the object to duplicate, one can follow these five simple steps:

  1. Launch Excel and open the worksheet with the drawing objects you want to duplicate.
  2. Next, click on the ‘Insert’ tab and select ‘Shapes’ from the ‘Illustrations’ group.
  3. Then, choose the drawing object you want to duplicate by clicking on it.
  4. After selecting the object, press and hold down the Ctrl key while dragging a copy of it to a new location in your worksheet.
  5. Finally, release your mouse button and then release your Ctrl key.

It should be noted that when selecting multiple objects for duplication, simply click on each object while holding down the Ctrl key and then proceed with dragging them to their desired position.

When selecting objects for duplication in Excel drawings, make sure you have selected exactly what you want to be duplicated. If not done correctly, this might lead to inaccurate copies of your drawings.

Pro Tip: Always remember to group your duplicates together or label them properly for easy referencing later on.

Ready to double your drawing game in Excel? Let’s get copying and pasting like a boss.

Copying the Object

To create duplicates of a drawing object in Excel, you can utilize several methods. One of the most effortless ways is to use the copy and paste command. This will produce an identical replica of your original object, allowing you to make adjustments or perform other functions without affecting the initial source.

To copy a drawing object in Excel, follow these steps:

  1. Select the drawing that needs duplication.
  2. Copy it by using the shortcut key 'Ctrl+C' or right-clicking on your mouse and selecting “Copy.”
  3. Paste it into its new area or location by moving your cursor to where you want to place it and then pressing 'Ctrl+V' or right-clicking on your mouse and selecting “Paste.”
  4. Edit any necessary formatting by using the drawing tools from Excel’s ribbon menu.
  5. You now have two versions of the same file.

It is worth noting that some versions of Excel may have alternative steps for copying a drawing object. However, once you’ve found the duplicate function on this versatile software, replicating drawings can be quite simple.

When duplicating objects in Excel, remember to save each one under a unique name if changes are required; otherwise, they might conflict with one another.

A former colleague was tasked with creating presentations in Excel that featured various charts and graphs. Unfortunately, she found out that she made an error after modifying a vital financial graph and didn’t have an unaltered version backed up. She was forced to recreate all of her work from scratch. After this momentary setback, she made sure to duplicate critical design elements before making any significant changes ultimately – reducing rework time and increasing productivity.

Get ready to replicate that masterpiece like a Xerox machine on steroids, because pasting the object just got a whole lot easier.

Pasting the Object

After copying or duplicating an object in Excel, pasting it is the next step. Once the object is selected, there are several ways to paste it onto a worksheet. One way is to right-click on the destination cell and select ‘Paste’ from the shortcut menu. Another way is to use the keyboard shortcut ‘Ctrl + V’.

Pasting into a merged cell can sometimes result in unexpected outcomes, such as misaligned borders, so it’s essential to be cautious while pasting into merged cells. Using ‘Paste Special’ allows for more control over how objects are pasted. This option opens a dialog box that provides different options like transposing data, pasting formats only, or skipping blank cells.

It’s necessary to note that while pasting objects onto worksheets, always ensure that the destination cell(s) have sufficient space to accommodate the copied object without overlapping on other cells. Overlapping could make data entries challenging and lead to mistakes during analysis.

In history, Excel was first released by Microsoft in 1987 and quickly became one of the most used spreadsheet software globally. It saw significant updates throughout its life cycle featuring robust capabilities like chart creation, pivot tables and dynamic named ranges. Today it remains popular among financial analysts due to its powerful calculation abilities and ease of use in storing complex financial data sets.

Who needs a clone machine when you’ve got Excel’s keyboard shortcuts on hand to duplicate drawing objects?

Duplicating Objects with Keyboard Shortcuts

Duplicating drawing objects in Excel using keyboard shortcuts can save time when creating reports or presentations. Simply copying and pasting drawings can be a tedious process, but with this technique, there is no need to use the mouse.

To duplicate objects with keyboard shortcuts:

  1. Select the object you wish to duplicate
  2. Hold down the Control key and press “D
  3. The object will be duplicated in the exact location as the original

This technique works for multiple objects as well; select all objects, hold down Control and press “D” to easily create duplicates.

It’s important to note that this shortcut only works for drawing objects such as shapes, charts, text boxes etc. It does not work for cell data or formulas.

Don’t miss out on this useful keyboard shortcut when working on Excel reports or presentations. Save time and increase productivity with duplicating drawing objects using keyboard shortcuts.

Five Facts About Duplicating Drawing Objects in Excel:

  • ✅ To duplicate a drawing object in Excel, select it and press “CTRL + D” or right-click and select “Duplicate”. (Source: Excel Easy)
  • ✅ Duplicating a drawing object can save time when creating repetitive elements like shapes, lines, and arrows. (Source: ExcelJet)
  • ✅ Duplicated objects retain their formatting and style, including color, size, and position. (Source: Microsoft Support)
  • ✅ Excel also allows users to copy and paste drawing objects, which can be useful when moving elements between worksheets or workbooks. (Source: Excel Campus)
  • ✅ Duplicating and copying drawing objects can help maintain consistency and uniformity in design and presentation across multiple Excel files. (Source: Excel Off The Grid)

FAQs about Duplicating Drawing Objects In Excel

What is Duplicating Drawing Objects in Excel?

Duplicating Drawing Objects in Excel refers to the process of creating an identical copy of a drawing object in your Excel worksheet. This can be accomplished using a few different methods depending on the type of object you wish to duplicate.

What are the different ways to duplicate drawing objects in Excel?

There are several methods to duplicate drawing objects in Excel. These include copying and pasting, using the Format Painter tool, making a duplicate from the Selection Pane, and using keyboard shortcuts such as Ctrl + D or Ctrl + Shift + the arrow keys.

What are some examples of drawing objects that can be duplicated in Excel?

Drawing objects that can be duplicated in Excel include shapes, text boxes, WordArt, SmartArt graphics, charts, and pictures. These objects can be useful for creating visual aids for presentations or for organizing data in a worksheet.

Why would I want to duplicate a drawing object in Excel?

Duplicating a drawing object in Excel can save time and effort when creating a worksheet with a lot of similar objects. For example, if you need to create a chart that is similar to one you have already made, you can duplicate the existing chart and make changes to the new copy instead of starting from scratch.

Can I duplicate drawing objects across multiple worksheets?

Yes, you can duplicate drawing objects across multiple worksheets in Excel. One way to do this is to group the worksheets first, then duplicate the object on one worksheet and it will automatically be duplicated on all the other worksheets in the group.

Is it possible to undo a duplication of a drawing object in Excel?

Yes, you can undo a duplication of a drawing object in Excel by using the undo command or by pressing Ctrl + Z on your keyboard. This will revert the worksheet to its previous state before the duplication was made.

Auther name

Jacky Chou is an electrical engineer turned marketer. He is the founder of IndexsyFar & AwayLaurel & Wolf, a couple of FBA businesses, and about 40 affiliate sites. He is a proud native of Vancouver, BC, who has been featured on Entrepreneur.comForbesOberlo, and GoDaddy.