# Converting word file to Excel? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 28, 2004, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-word-file-to-excel/281923 "2004-12-28T13:36:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-word-file-to-excel/281923/1 "2004-12-28T13:36:56Z")
I’m at work, trying to convert a chart that was made in Word into an Excel doc. Not sure how to do this, any advice? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-word-file-to-excel/281923/2 "2004-12-28T14:41:45Z")
What kind of chart, exactly? Do you know how it was made in Word? ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-word-file-to-excel/281923/3 "2004-12-28T14:44:28Z")
For most of them, you should just be able to copy and paste right into Excel. The data sheet will transfer with it. ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-word-file-to-excel/281923/4 "2004-12-28T14:50:45Z")
I have no idea how it was made in Word - I didn’t make it myself. I tried to just copy and past, but there are bulleted lists in the Word chart, and Excel wants to put each item in the list in a different cel, but each list belongs in the same cell. Grrr…right now, I’m just typing it in myself. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-word-file-to-excel/281923/5 "2004-12-28T14:57:32Z")
> [@badbadrubberpiggy](#): > > I have no idea how it was made in Word - I didn’t make it myself. I tried to just copy and past, but there are bulleted lists in the Word chart, and Excel wants to put each item in the list in a different cel, but each list belongs in the same cell. > > Grrr…right now, I’m just typing it in myself. Try selecting the cell you want to put it into, and then click the formula bar so that the cursor is active there. If you paste the information there, it should retain its formatting and not break into separate cells. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-word-file-to-excel/281923/6 "2004-12-28T14:59:29Z")
For clarity, I’m just going to emphasize that it’s important that the formula bar itself has the focus. If you simply select the cell and paste, it will break it out into separate cells - you have to specifically select the formula bar. (I just tested to confirm, and it does work) ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-word-file-to-excel/281923/7 "2004-12-28T15:15:05Z")
It sounds like you are trying to copy text into Excel, not a chart. Am I misunderstanding? ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-word-file-to-excel/281923/8 "2004-12-28T15:16:39Z")
Thanks! That worked - I was selecting the cells to paste, not the formula bar. It’s still a pain in the @$$, because there’s so many lists, but it’s much better than trying to do each item separately ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/converting-word-file-to-excel/281923/9 "2004-12-28T15:24:02Z")
> [@badbadrubberpiggy](#): > > Thanks! That worked - I was selecting the cells to paste, not the formula bar. It’s still a pain in the @$$, because there’s so many lists, but it’s much better than trying to do each item separately Here’s a one-better: double click the cell (had never actually thought of it before now) and it will do the same thing.