5 Quick Ways to Copy Excel Sheet to New Workbook

Working with Excel often involves complex data management tasks, including transferring data from one workbook to another. There are numerous instances where you might need to copy an Excel sheet to a new workbook: perhaps to share only specific data with colleagues or to create a backup of critical information. Here are five quick and efficient methods to achieve this in Microsoft Excel:

1. Copy and Paste Method

One of the simplest techniques to copy an Excel sheet to a new workbook is through the traditional copy and paste function. Here’s how to do it:

• Open the workbook containing the sheet you want to copy.
• Right-click on the sheet tab you want to copy, and select ‘Move or Copy.’
• In the dialog box, choose ‘Create a copy’ and select ‘New Workbook’ under ‘To book:’
• Press OK, and a new workbook will open with the copied sheet.

📌 Note: This method preserves formulas linked to other sheets within the original workbook, but external links might not work properly in the new workbook.

2. Using Keyboard Shortcuts

For those who prefer using keyboard shortcuts for speed, here’s how to copy a sheet:

• Hold down Alt and press E, then M to open the ‘Move or Copy’ dialog box directly.
• Use the arrow keys to navigate and Enter to select options as described in the copy-paste method.
• Press Enter to execute the copy.

🖱 Note: If you’re on a Mac, you can use the Command key instead of Alt.

3. VBA Macro for Automation

If you regularly need to copy sheets between workbooks, a VBA macro can automate the process. Here’s a simple script:

Sub CopySheetToNewBook()
    ThisWorkbook.Sheets(“YourSheetName”).Copy
End Sub

• Replace “YourSheetName” with the name of your sheet.
• Run the macro from the Excel VBA editor to create a new workbook with the copied sheet.

4. Office Scripts for Microsoft 365

For users of Microsoft 365, Office Scripts provide an even more streamlined automation approach:

• Go to the ‘Automate’ tab in Excel Online.
• Create a new script, and use this code:

  function main(workbook: ExcelScript.Workbook) {
      let sheet = workbook.getActiveWorksheet();
      workbook.copy(“New Workbook.xlsx”);
  }

• Run the script to copy the active sheet to a new workbook named “New Workbook.xlsx”.

5. Using Excel’s External Reference

You can also create a new workbook with the copy of a sheet using an external reference:

• In a new workbook, type ‘=’ in a cell to start an external reference.
• Select the sheet and range from the source workbook you wish to copy.
• Press Enter, and the data will populate in the new workbook. Note that this method doesn’t copy the sheet structure but only the data.

Each of these methods offers distinct advantages, tailored to different needs and proficiency levels with Excel:

• The copy-paste approach is straightforward for beginners.
• Keyboard shortcuts speed up the process for regular users.
• VBA Macros and Office Scripts provide robust automation for power users.
• Using external references is useful when you only need data from specific ranges, not the entire sheet.

By mastering these methods, you can enhance your productivity in managing and organizing data across multiple Excel workbooks. Choosing the right method depends on your specific workflow, how often you perform the task, and your familiarity with Excel's advanced features. Remember that keeping your data well-organized within workbooks not only improves efficiency but also ensures data integrity and ease of collaboration with your team.

Can I copy multiple sheets at once?

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Yes, you can. Hold Ctrl or Shift (depending on your selection method) to select multiple sheets, then follow any of the copying methods described above.

What happens to formulas when copying sheets to a new workbook?

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Formulas linked to other sheets in the original workbook will try to reference the source workbook. You might need to update these references manually or use the copy-paste method which automatically updates links.

Is there a way to copy only the values?

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Absolutely. Before copying, select the sheet, go to ‘Find & Select’, choose ‘Replace’, replace ‘=’ with ‘l’, then copy. This turns all formulas into their calculated values. Replace ‘l’ back with ‘=’ after copying.