Microsoft KB Archive/85941

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Data Parsed Incorrectly when Pasted or when Text File Opened

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 4.0
 * Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, version 4.0

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SYMPTOMS
In Microsoft Excel 4.0, when you paste tab-separated data from another application, the data may not be parsed correctly if the Text Column Delimiter is set to something other than Tab.

Instead, the data is pasted to a single cell or column. In Microsoft Excel for Windows, vertical bars (|) will appear in place of the tabs. In Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, blank spaces will appear in place of the tabs.

CAUSE
This problem may occur under either of the following conditions:


 * When you paste a dialog box definition table from the Dialog Editor, a table from Word for Windows or Word for the Macintosh, or tab-separated text from Notepad or from some other text editor.

When you copy data from another application, the data is initially copied to the Clipboard. When the data is pasted from the Clipboard to your Worksheet or Macro sheet, Microsoft Excel uses the current Text Column Delimiter setting in the File dialog box for parsing the data from the Clipboard. If you have set the Text Column Delimiter to something other than Tab, the data will not be parsed correctly.

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 * When you open a tab-delimited text file with the Column Delimiter set to something other than Tab.

WORKAROUND
To correct the problem, set the Column Delimiter option to Tab, and paste the data again. To do so, follow these steps:


 * 1) From the File menu, choose Open.
 * 2) Select the Text option button.
 * 3) Select the Tab option in the Column Delimiter group.
 * 4) Choose the OK button in the Text File Options dialog box and choose Cancel in the File Open dialog box to return to your worksheet.