Paste Buddy is very easy to set up and use. This page provides instructions to get you started. Please contact us with any questions.
Click here if you are looking for the Paste Buddy Download Page.
Installation
Please see my Guide on Installing an Excel Add-in for detailed instructions on installing the Paste Buddy Add-in.
After you have installed and used Paste Buddy, an additional settings file will be added to the same folder that you save the add-in file in (“Paste_Buddy_Settings.ini”). This file just stores your keyboard shortcut settings so you can use Paste Buddy when multiple instances of Excel are open. Please do not delete this file.
Video Tutorial
Setup the Keyboard Shortcuts
Once installed, the Paste Buddy button will appear on the Add-Ins tab of the Excel Ribbon. This button will appear every time you open Excel.
Click the Paste Buddy button to open the Paste Buddy Setup Window.

In this setup window you can create the keyboard shortcuts that will perform the paste special commands.
The setup window contains a list of 12 keyboard shortcuts where you can customize the following:
- Key – This is the keyboard shortcut combination that will perform the paste special command when pressed. All shortcuts begin with Ctrl+Shift.The full keyboard shortcut is Ctrl+Shift+Key. The Key is the third key that is required in the keyboard shortcut. In the example above, the keyboard shortcut for paste values is setup as Ctrl+Shift+V.
- Paste Option – This is the Paste Special command that will be performed when the keyboard shortcut is pressed. There are a list of 11 different paste special options in the Paste Option drop-down boxes.
- Operation – This is the additional operation that can be performed with the paste option. These operations include: Add, Subtract, Multiple, Divide, Transpose, & Skip Blanks.
Setup Example:
Let's walk through an example of how to setup a keyboard shortcut to Paste Values:
Click the Paste Buddy button in the Add-Ins tab of the Ribbon. The Setup Window will open.
- Type the letter V (or any key you want) in the Key text box in row 1.
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- Select Values from the Paste Option drop-down box in row 1.
The Operation drop-down can be left as None for this example._
- Click the Save & Close button.
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That's it! The shortcut to Paste Values is now setup as Ctrl+Shift+V
Now put it to the test:
- Select a cell in your worksheet that contains a formula and/or formatting and press Ctrl+C to copy it.
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- Select a blank cell and press Ctrl+Shift+V to paste the values of the copied cell. The formula and formatting will NOT be copied. Only the value of the copied cell will be pasted in the selected cell.
You Can Undo
The Paste Buddy shortcut key works just like any other paste special command in Excel. You can press Ctrl+Z or the Undo button to undo your action.

The Key List
You can create up to 12 different keyboard shortcuts in the Paste Buddy setup window.
How are you going to remember all these? Pressing the “Key List” button on the setup window will create a new Excel workbook with a list of all your shortcut keys.

This list is formatted for printing so you can print it out and put it on your desk. You can use this a reference to help you remember your shortcut keys. It is especially useful for the commands that you don't use that often.
Paste Visible
The Paste Visible feature of Paste Buddy is a solution to the error message you receive in Excel when attempting to paste to a filtered range with hidden rows or columns.
The error message is, “The command cannot be used on multiple selections”.
Here is a video that explains how Paste Visible works (the video starts at 1:48 where I explain Paste Visible).
To use the Paste Visible feature:
- Press the Paste Visible button on the XL Campus tab of the Ribbon.
- You will be prompted to select the range of cells that includes filtered/hidden rows/columns. Select the entire range and press OK.
- Select the top-left cell in the range where you want to start the paste. You do NOT have to select the entire range to paste to. Just the top-left cell. Press OK.
- The Paste Visible window will appear and display the copy and paste ranges. You will also be able to select the Paste Special type (Formulas, Values, Formats, etc.)
- Press the Paste button. Paste Visible will paste each cell from the copy range into the visible cells in the paste range. This is a labor-intensive process because each cell is copy/pasted individually. The process can take some time if you have hundreds or thousands of cells.
You can then clear the filters or unhide rows/columns to see the results pasted in the visible cells only.
Have More Questions?
Please leave a comment below or contact us with any questions or product suggestions you have. I want you to love Paste Buddy, and together we can make it better. 🙂
hi,
when i try to save i get this error:
Run-time error 75. Path/File Access Error copying files
I use excel 2013 Dutch
Hi Lou,
Sorry to hear that. Let’s see if we can get it fixed.
Where did you save the add-in file? What folder did you save it in?
When you click the Save & Close button in the Paste Buddy Window, a new settings file is created and saved in the same folder as the add-in file.
It sounds like the error is occurring when the settings file is being saved.
Do you see a file named “Paste_Buddy_Settings.ini” in the same location as the add-in file?
Thanks,
Jon
Installed the Paste Buddy plug-in and it is active in Excel 2010 plug-in list. The tab is above the tool bar. I opened the tab and am using the default values.
But when I try to paste, e.g, CTRL+Shift+V, nothing happens, and I get a dialogue box up in the tool bar that says: “Office access key: Alt, E. Continue typing the menu sequence from an earlier version of Office or press ESC to cancel.
How do I fix this and get Paste-Buddy to work properly?
Thanks,
Tom D.
Hi Tom,
Sometimes you have to release all the keys at the same time. Otherwise the macro doesn’t fire completely. This is definitely a workaround solution but usually works really well. Try to release the all three keys at the same time and see if it works for you.
Thanks!
i keep getting an error trying to use the trial in excel 2013
compiled error in hidden module… its says VB error
I show the trial program as an active program in excel. However, when I try to use it, nothing will happen. The window doesn’t open when I click the icon to select the cells to copy and paste.
Not sure why.
Thanks,
Hi Dan,
Sorry to hear you are experiencing issues with the add-in. What version of Excel are you using?
Thanks,
Jon
I am using 2007 version.
I’m facing it too.. im running paste full version buddy on excel 2007,
when I try to paste, e.g, CTRL+Shift+V, nothing happens, and I get a dialogue box up in the tool bar that says: “Office access key: Alt, E. Continue typing the menu sequence from an earlier version of Office or press ESC to cancel.
any solution?
PS: The paste visible function work flawless tho..
Hi Jeff,
Sorry to not get back to you sooner. Paste Buddy uses a sendkeys workaround to make the magic happen. That basically means that it presses the native Excel keyboard shortcut for you. If you don’t release all the keys at the same time it can get stuck in the middle of process. Try messing around with how you release the shortcut Ctrl+Shift+V. You might be able to get it to work by pressing and releasing the keys all at the same time. I hope that helps. Thanks!
Jon,
I left you an email message yesterday. I am stuck. It just won’t open to do anything from the tab where it resides in the toolbar. I re-downloaded it. I rebooted. I restarted excel. Checked the disabled area. All checks out. Hope there is something that can be done. I like what it does when it works.
Thanks,
Dan
Hello, just tried to install excelbuddy & did but installation came with error
I’m running 2016
1. How to uninstall it properly?
2. Do you have compatible version of your tools?
Regards
Hi Clement,
The trial version is compatible with the 32-bit Windows version of Excel 2016. It is not compatible with 64-bit. Are you running 64-bit? The full version is compatible with 64-bit. Let me know and I can help you out.
Paste Buddy is not compatible with Mac versions of Excel. Thanks!
Instead of a problem, I’m leaving kudos! I do so much copying and pasting, and Paste Buddy is saving me a ton of keystrokes. My own personal second-by-second LEAN project.
Hi Barbara, Thank you so much! I really appreciate you taking the time to let me know, and happy to hear Paste Buddy is helping you. Have a great day! 🙂
Finally have time to write this question…My Paste Buddy – full developer version using on Excel 2010 – When I first installed per the directions, it worked splendidly. However, the next time I started Excel, the EC tab has disappeared, taking my Paste Buddy with it. File options say it is an active add in, but it doesn’t appear in my Add In drop down. Suggestions? I loved it and want it back.
Hi Barbara,
I’m sorry to hear you are having that issue. It’s due an a Office security update that was released a few months ago. That update causes the add-in’s tab to disappear without warning. Fortunately, there is a pretty quick fix for it. The following article explains how to fix it. You will likely have to do the last step to Unblock the add-in file.
https://www.excelcampus.com/vba/add-in-ribbon-disappears/
Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks again!
Thanks, Jon. Making the file location trusted didn’t help, and I couldn’t find block/unblock in file properties. However, when I disabled and re-enabled per another commenter’s suggestion, my tab magically reappeared. I really appreciate your quick responses.
How to uninstall Paste Buddy?
Not working for large tables ….
Igor
Overall, very pleased – this has been EXTREMELY helpful and saved me scads of time. I did notice that when copying a column of values with hidden rows and pasting to the visible rows only, within the range copied from, that Paste Buddy fills down instead, using the top value from the copied range. Unique feature LOL ? I was essentially trying to move a group of values down a one or more rows in a column with hidden rows (i.e. filtered).
Is is possible to run a FreeTrial version on 64-bit Windows?
Hi Maja,
I updated the trial version to be compatible with 64-bit. You can signup to download the add-in at the following link.
Paste Buddy Add-in Trial Version
I hope that helps. Thanks!
can i use the full version in 2 computer, my laptop and my computer at my work
Hello,
The add in is not working for large table. Unless you can duplicate my problem. I cannot get it to work. How can I process a refund? I needed it for a major project yesterday and it would not work. Ended up doing it manually.
good afternoon, I want to copy a formula into filtered cells. please tell me there is a trick to this!
Hi. I’m an Excel 365 user and I’ve been successfully using the full Paste Buddy version for months. For some reason today when I try to use the shortcuts (i.e. CTRL + SHIFT + V), the paste special dialog box pops up instead of automatically pasting special values. Please advise. Thank you.
I just installed this plug in. I am having the same issue.
me too.
HI, how can i just acquire the Paste Buddy Ad In. It’s all i need.
Hi, I have POaste Buddy, and every time I copy from one Excel to another I get “esv” in the column of the sheet I’m trying to copy to. Is this an error?
Is it possible to purchase just a full license of Paste Buddy for Windows and/or Mac?