Copy or move data

If you are pasting data from multiple fields to a datasheet, make sure the columns match the order of the data you want to copy or move.

When you paste records or data from multiple fields to a form, Microsoft Access pastes the data into fields with the same name as the source fields, regardless of their order on the form. If the data you want to copy or move contains fields that don't exist in the destination form, Access asks you if you want to paste only fields with matching names. If there are no matching field names, Access pastes the fields according to the destination form's tab order — this might not be the order you want. If the field names in the source are different from the field names in the destination, you might want to paste the data into a datasheet instead of a form.

Copy or move data from one field to another

Open a datasheet, or open a form in Form view.

Select the data you want to copy or move.

How?

The following table lists mouse techniques for selecting data or records in Datasheet view.

To select	Click
Data in a field	Where you want to start selecting and drag across the data.
An entire field	The left edge of the field in a datasheet, where the pointer changes into .
Adjacent fields	The left edge of a field and drag to extend the selection.
A column	The field selector.
Adjacent columns	The field name at the top of the column and then drag to extend the selection.
A record	The record selector.
Multiple records	The record selector of the first record, and then drag to extend the selection.
All records	Select All Records on the Edit menu.

To copy the data, click Copy on the Table Datasheet, Query Datasheet, or Form View toolbar.
To move the data, click Cut on the Table Datasheet, Query Datasheet, or Form View toolbar.
To replace the current value of the destination field, select the whole field.
To insert the data into the existing data, position the insertion point where you want to paste the data.
Click Paste on the Table Datasheet, Query Datasheet, or Form View toolbar.

Copy or move records from another application to Microsoft Access

Be sure the data is arranged in a spreadsheet or table, or separated by tab characters, before you select it.

In the other application, select one or more rows you want to copy or move.
Copy or cut the records in the other application.
In Microsoft Access, open the datasheet or form in which you want to paste the records.
Do one of the following:
- To replace records, select those records, and then click Paste on the Table Datasheet, Query Datasheet, or Form View toolbar. If the record selector isn't visible in a form, click Select Record on the Edit menu.
- To append the data as new records, click Paste Append on the Edit menu.

Copy or move records or data from multiple fields in Microsoft Access to another application

When you paste records into another application, Microsoft Access pastes the field names in the first row, followed by the data.

Open a datasheet, or open a form in Form view.

Select the data you want to copy or move.

How?

The following table lists mouse techniques for selecting data or records in Datasheet view.

To select	Click
Data in a field	Where you want to start selecting and drag across the data.
An entire field	The left edge of the field in a datasheet, where the pointer changes into .
Adjacent fields	The left edge of a field and drag to extend the selection.
A column	The field selector.
Adjacent columns	The field name at the top of the column and then drag to extend the selection.
A record	The record selector.
Multiple records	The record selector of the first record, and then drag to extend the selection.
All records	Select All Records on the Edit menu.

To copy data, click Copy on the Table Datasheet, Query Datasheet, or Form View toolbar.
To move data, click Cut on the Table Datasheet, Query Datasheet, or Form View toolbar.
Open the application in which you want to paste the data.
Do one of the following:
- To replace data with the data from Access, select the data you want to replace.
- To insert the data into existing data, position the insertion point where you want to paste the data.
- To paste into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, select the cell in which you want the first column heading.
- To paste into a Microsoft Word for Windows document, move the insertion point to where you want to place the records. The records are pasted as a table in Word.
Paste the data.

Note If you are copying from a datasheet that contains subdatasheets, Access can copy only one level of datasheet at a time.

Copy or move records or data from multiple fields to a datasheet

Before copying or moving the data, make sure the columns in the destination datasheet match the order of the data you want to copy or move.

Open a datasheet, or open a form in Form view.

Select the data you want to copy or move.

How?

The following table lists mouse techniques for selecting data or records in Datasheet view.

To select	Click
Data in a field	Where you want to start selecting and drag across the data.
An entire field	The left edge of the field in a datasheet, where the pointer changes into .
Adjacent fields	The left edge of a field and drag to extend the selection.
A column	The field selector.
Adjacent columns	The field name at the top of the column and then drag to extend the selection.
A record	The record selector.
Multiple records	The record selector of the first record, and then drag to extend the selection.
All records	Select All Records on the Edit menu.

To copy data, click Copy on the Table Datasheet, Query Datasheet, or Form View toolbar.
To move data, click Cut on the Table Datasheet, Query Datasheet, or Form View toolbar.
Open the datasheet you want to paste the data into. If necessary, rearrange the columns of the datasheet to match the order of the data you are copying or moving.
To replace the current data in the destination, do one of the following:
- If you are pasting data from multiple fields, select a destination that has the same number of fields and records as the data you copied, and then click Paste on the Table Datasheet, Query Datasheet, or Form View toolbar.
- If you are pasting records, select the records you want to replace, and then click Paste on the Table Datasheet, Query Datasheet, or Form View toolbar.
To paste the data as new records at the end of the datasheet, click Paste Append on the Edit menu.

Note If the source datasheet has more fields than the destination datasheet, Microsoft Access doesn't paste the extra fields.

Copy or move records or data from multiple fields to a form

Open a datasheet, or open a form in Form view.

Select the data you want to copy or move.

How?

The following table lists mouse techniques for selecting data or records in Datasheet view.

To select	Click
Data in a field	Where you want to start selecting and drag across the data.
An entire field	The left edge of the field in a datasheet, where the pointer changes into .
Adjacent fields	The left edge of a field and drag to extend the selection.
A column	The field selector.
Adjacent columns	The field name at the top of the column and then drag to extend the selection.
A record	The record selector.
Multiple records	The record selector of the first record, and then drag to extend the selection.
All records	Select All Records on the Edit menu.

To copy data, click Copy on the Table Datasheet, Query Datasheet, or Form View toolbar.
To move data, click Cut on the Table Datasheet, Query Datasheet, or Form View toolbar.
Open the form you want to paste the data into.
To replace the current data in the destination form, select the data you want to replace, and then click Paste on the Database toolbar.
To paste the data as new records, click Paste Append on the Edit menu.