XL97: Problems with Arguments of PasteSpecial Method (255520)

SYMPTOMS

If you write a Visual Basic for Applications macro that uses the PasteSpecial method, the macro may not work correctly if it attempts to perform either of the following actions:

Use the PasteSpecial method to paste validation.
Use the PasteSpecial method to paste all information except borders.

For example, when the macro attempts to paste information except borders, nothing is pasted.

Note that the same macro works as expected in versions of Microsoft Excel prior to Excel 97.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because in Excel 97 the Paste argument used by the PasteSpecial method uses the wrong value; it uses the value 6 instead of the value 7.

Because the value 6 is used, the xlPasteAllExceptBorders constant incorrectly causes validation formatting to be pasted.

To paste information other than borders, the xlPasteAllExceptBorders constant should use a value of 7. When the value is 6, the xlPasteAllExceptBorders constant causes the PasteSpecial method to paste validation formatting when you run the macro.

There is no constant that causes all information except borders to be pasted.

NOTE: There is no xlPasteValidation constant, either in Visual Basic or mentioned in the Help topic for the PasteSpecial method.

WORKAROUND

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To work around this issue, use the Paste argument but set it to the correct value. To do this, modify the macro so that it resembles one of the following examples.

Paste Validation Only

To paste only validation formatting, change the value of the Paste argument to 6, as in the following example:

   Selection.PasteSpecial Paste:=6, Operation:=xlNone

NOTE: Microsoft recommends that you use this method instead of using the xlPasteAllExceptBorders constant because the xlPasteAllExceptBorders constant does not perform the correct operation.

To Paste All Information Except Borders

If you want to paste all copied information except borders, change the value of the Paste argument to 7, as in the following example:

   Selection.PasteSpecial Paste:=7, Operation:=xlNone

MORE INFORMATION

If you click Paste Special on the Edit menu while you are recording a Visual Basic macro in Microsoft Excel 97, the Paste argument recorded in the code may be incorrect. For example, the action you record and the constant that is recorded are listed in the following table.

   Paste Special action   Recorded constant
   ----------------------------------------------

   Validation             xlPasteAllExceptBorders

   All Except Borders     7

Note that if you run the recorded code, it works correctly even though it does not appear to be correct.

If you write a macro or if you edit a recorded macro, the PasteSpecial method may not work correctly if you use the constant noted in Help.