How do I copy Word tables into Excel without splitting cells into multiple rows?

Question

I have data in a Word table that includes line and paragraph breaks. When I copy the data into Excel, it splits each line and paragraph I want into multiple cells. How do I copy the data to Excel and keep the breaks?

Answer 1

i believe you want the number of cells in the word table preserved in the excel table, even though Excel Paste wants to split a cell at line breaks.

Here is the approach that works:

(1) in Word, translate line breaks to an unusual string

(2) in Word, copy the table

(3) in Excel, Paste into a1

(4) in Excel, translate the unusual string back to line breaks

In detail,

(1) in Word, select the table.

Press the Ctrl + H shortcut to open the Replacetab of the Word Find and Replace dialog.

Alternatively, go to the Home tab > Editing group and click Find & Select > Replace…

In the Find window, type ^p

(that means “line break”)

in the Replace window, type —myLineBreak—

Hit Replace All.

(2) Select entire table and Copy

(3) in Excel, Paste into A1

(4) Press the Ctrl + H shortcut to open the Replacetab of the Excel Find and Replace dialog.

Alternatively, go to the Home tab > Editing group and click Find & Select > Replace…

In the Find window, type —myLineBreak—

In the Replace window, type ^p

Hit Replace All

If this doesn’t work, please add a comment, I’m pretty sure I can make it work.