How do you duplicate a copy in Excel?

To duplicate a sheet in Excel, hold down the Ctrl key, then click and drag the sheet tab to the desired location.

Here's a more detailed explanation of how to duplicate a sheet (also known as creating a copy) in Microsoft Excel:

Steps to Duplicate a Sheet in Excel:

1. Select the Sheet: In your Excel workbook, locate and click on the sheet tab you want to duplicate. This is typically found at the bottom of the Excel window.

2. Initiate the Copy Process:

   • Method 1: Click and Drag with Ctrl Key:

     • Press and hold down the Ctrl key (or the Option key on a Mac).
     • Click on the sheet tab you selected.
     • While holding down the Ctrl key and the mouse button, drag the sheet tab to the left or right. A small page icon with a plus sign will appear next to the cursor, indicating that you're creating a copy.
     • Release the mouse button. This will create a duplicate of the sheet at the new location.

   • Method 2: Using the Right-Click Menu:

     • Right-click on the sheet tab you want to duplicate.
     • Select "Move or Copy..." from the context menu.
     • In the "Move or Copy" dialog box:
       • Choose the position where you want to place the copy from the "Before sheet:" dropdown. To create the copy in the same workbook, ensure the workbook name is selected in the "To book:" dropdown. To copy to a new workbook, select "(new book)" from the dropdown.
       • Crucially, check the "Create a copy" box.
       • Click "OK". This will create a copy of the sheet.

3. Rename the Duplicate (Optional): Excel automatically names the duplicate sheet with a number in parentheses (e.g., "Sheet1 (2)"). To rename the sheet:

   • Double-click on the sheet tab.
   • Type the new name.
   • Press Enter.

Example:

Let's say you have a sheet named "Budget" with all your budget data. To create a copy of this sheet:

1. Click on the "Budget" sheet tab.
2. Hold down Ctrl and click and drag the "Budget" tab to the right.
3. Release the mouse button.
4. A new sheet named "Budget (2)" will appear. You can then rename this sheet to something like "Budget - Revised" or "Budget - Scenario 1".

Why Duplicate a Sheet?

Duplicating sheets is useful for:

• Creating backups of your data.
• Experimenting with different scenarios without altering the original data.
• Creating templates for similar datasets.
• Reusing existing formatting and formulas.