how to copy word table to excel without splitting cells

How to Copy a Word Table to Excel Without Splitting Cells

When working with tables in Microsoft Word, you may encounter situations where you need to transfer that data to an Excel spreadsheet without splitting cells. This process can be achieved by following a few simple steps.

Firstly, it's essential to understand that not all cell formats are converted correctly when copying from Word to Excel. For instance, GET (Ground/Mission Elapsed Time) values may not be automatically converted into Excel time durations. To resolve this issue, select the cells containing these values and choose the correct format from Home > Number > Custom > :mm:ss. This will allow you to view the total hours in the desired format.

Another crucial step is to ensure that GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) time cells are correctly converted to time with hh:mm:ss formatting. In some cases, Excel may convert these values to a date or time but display them as Text/General. To verify this, inspect each cell after copying the table to Excel. When converting cells, Excel will automatically apply matching formats, which can lead to mixed results.

To avoid any issues, switch to a blank worksheet in Excel and paste (Ctrl + V) the copied table. This will enable Excel to convert the web table into cells correctly. To select the entire page or table, press Ctrl + A or choose the desired range of cells to ensure accuracy.

For static, unchanging tables like NASA's Apollo 11 timeline, a simple method is to copy the page from your browser and paste it directly into an Excel workbook. This approach has been effective for all versions of Excel dating back more than a decade. Although Get and Transform with PowerQuery offers a superior conversion experience, this traditional method remains reliable.

In conclusion, copying a word table to Excel without splitting cells requires attention to detail and a few straightforward steps. By understanding the limitations of cell format conversions and applying the correct formatting techniques, you can successfully transfer data from Word to Excel while maintaining its integrity.

How to copy word table to excel without splitting cells