Forum Discussion
difference between copy and cut in excel
That's a good question Why and the answer depends on how deep we would like to go in consideration of Excel engine and history of its creation.
If on top. Excel returns #REF! if the cell was referenced is deleted or pasted over How to correct a #REF! error .
Excel treats differently copy/paste and cut/paste. With copy/paste Excel copies the cell value and cell properties, we may paste all of them or only some using Paste Special.
Cut takes ALL attributes of the cell and paste all of them into new place, Paste Special doesn't exists for the pasting after the cut. Actually with cut/paste you delete "physical" cell and put another in this place. With copy/paste "physical" cell is kept, we only replace it's value an related properties.
By the way, drag & drop (take any cell and drag it by mouse on A1 place in our sample) is equivalent of cut/paste.
In other applications, such as Word, there is not need to support referencing mechanism as for the sheets, thus there is no difference between pasting after the copy and after the cut, they are working exactly the same way.
Thanks much, I got the answer. I was wondered because when I cut a float number (not a function) from a cell to a new cell, the pasted number should be still a float number, and a function should have a result. As an example: if I cut a float number from C1 and paste that on A1 cell, a function of A1+B1 should give a number. If I understand correctly, A1 cell is still A1 cell, just value changed to C1 value with other attributes. So, If C1 is a float number, now A1 should be a float number too. as a result, A1+B1 function suppose to give a number.
jabed I guess you didn't understand SergeiBaklan 's very clear explanation of the issue. Imagine that "cut and paste" tells Excel to first "delete" the target cell and immediately "insert" a new one in its place with the new value. The initial deletion of the old A1, breaks all formulae that refer to it and will produce the #REF! error. Their relationship with the old A1 is lost forever. After pasting there will be a new A1.
"Old A1" is not the same as "New A1". Hence, all formulae that pointed to old A1 remain broken.
"Copy and paste", on the other hand, just "opens the door" to A1, kicks-out the old value and puts in the new one. A1 is still the same cell as before, but just with another content. All formulae that refer to A1 remain intact.
