XL2002: Cell Is Removed from Watch Window When You Cut and Paste into a Watched Cell (282160)

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, when you add cells to the Watch Window and then paste data into a watched cell, the cell is removed from the Watch Window.

When you click Undo Paste on the Edit menu, the paste operation is reversed, but the cell watch is not reapplied as expected.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs when you use the Cut command on the Edit menu and then paste the data into a watched cell, as in the following example:

Start Excel and create the following worksheet:

   A1:    B1: 1
   A2:    B2: 2
   A3:    B3: 3
   A4:    B4: 4

On the View menu, point to Toolbars, and then click Watch Window.
Select cells A1:A4.
On the Watch Window toolbar, click Add Watch.
In the Add Watch dialog box, click Add.

Note that Cells A1:A4 are present in the Watch Window.
Select cell B1.
On the Edit menu, click Cut.
Select cell A1.
On the Edit menu, click Paste.

Note that the contents of cell B1 are pasted to cell A1, and that cell A1 is removed from the Watch Window.
On the Edit menu, click Undo Paste.

Note that the cell contents return to cell B1, but that cell A1 is still removed from the Watch Window.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use the Copy and Paste commands instead of Cut and Paste. You can then delete or cut data from the copied cell, and the pasted cell remains in the Watch Window, as in the following example:

Start Excel and then create the following worksheet:

   A1:    B1: 1
   A2:    B2: 2
   A3:    B3: 3
   A4:    B4: 4

On the View menu, point to Toolbars, and then click Watch Window.
Select cells A1:A4.
On the Watch Window toolbar, click Add Watch.
In the Add Watch dialog box, click Add.

Note that Cells A1:A4 are present in the Watch Window.
Select cell B1.
On the Edit menu, click Copy.
Select cell A1.
On the Edit menu, click Paste.

Note that the contents of cell B1 are pasted to cell A1, and that cell A1 is still present in the Watch Window.
Select cell B1.
On the Edit menu, point to Clear, and then click Contents.

Note that the cell contents are deleted from cell B1, but that cell A1 is still in the Watch Window.

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, add any removed cells back into the Watch Window; to do so, follow these steps:

Select the cell or cells that you want to watch.
On the Watch Window tool bar, click Add Watch.
In the Add Watch dialog box, click Add.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about the Watch Window, click Microsoft Excel Help on the Help menu, type watch window in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.