How to Copy Excel Cells Without Source Links While Keeping Formulas in WPS Office
Question details
The user needs to copy cells containing formulas between Excel workbooks while keeping the formulas functional and avoiding links back to the original source file.
- Product
- WPS Office Spreadsheets
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Copying formula cells from one workbook to another without creating references to the original workbook.
- Observed behavior
- When copying formula cells normally, the destination workbook can retain references to the original workbook, making the formulas dependent on the source file.
Open both workbooks in WPS Office Spreadsheets and confirm that the source formulas are visible. Choose a temporary marker such as ^ or # that does not already appear in the selected formulas.
Use Find and Replace to Remove External Links Before Copying
Use this method when you want to copy Excel formulas into another workbook without carrying over the original file reference.
Copying formula cells directly can make WPS Office Spreadsheets preserve the source workbook path in the formula references. Temporarily converting formulas to text stops the application from resolving those references during the paste, so the formulas remain local to the new workbook after you restore them.
Open the workbook that contains the formulas in WPS Office Spreadsheets, then select the exact cells you want to copy.
Press Ctrl+H to open Find and Replace. In the Find what box enter =, in the Replace with box enter a marker such as ^ or #, and click Replace All. This changes formulas to text.
Press Ctrl+C to copy the selected cells, switch to the target workbook, select the destination cell, and press Ctrl+V.
With the pasted cells still selected, press Ctrl+H, enter the temporary marker in Find what and = in Replace with, then click Replace All.
Copy Excel Formulas to Another Workbook Without External Links in WPS Office
Use Find and Replace in WPS Office Spreadsheets to temporarily convert formulas to text, paste them into the target workbook, and restore them. This keeps formulas working while removing links to the original Excel file.
- 1. Open both Excel workbooks in WPS Office Spreadsheets: Start WPS Office, open the source and destination workbooks, and go to the sheet that contains the formulas.
- 2. Select the formula cells and open Find and Replace: Highlight the formula range in the source workbook and press Ctrl+H.
- 3. Replace = with a temporary marker: Enter = in Find what, enter ^ or # in Replace with, and click Replace All to convert formulas to text.
- 4. Copy the cells and paste them into the destination workbook: Press Ctrl+C, switch to the destination workbook, select the target cell, and press Ctrl+V.
- 5. Restore the formulas: Select the pasted range, press Ctrl+H, replace the temporary marker with =, and click Replace All.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my formulas show a link to the original workbook after copying?
Excel formulas can retain workbook references when you paste them directly. Replacing = with a temporary marker before copying turns them into text, so WPS Office does not carry over the source link.
Will this method work if I use WPS Office to open Microsoft Excel files?
Yes. WPS Office Spreadsheets supports .xlsx and .xls workbooks, and Find and Replace works the same way for this task.
What is the safest temporary marker to use?
Use a unique marker such as ^ or ### that does not appear in the selected formulas. Avoid spaces, because spaces inside formulas can make the final replacement unreliable.
Do I need to recalculate the formulas after restoring them?
Usually no. Once the marker is replaced with =, WPS Office recognizes the entries as formulas automatically. If a cell still shows text, click the formula bar and press Enter or press F9 to recalculate.
Does this method remove all external workbook links?
It prevents new links while copying local formulas. If the original formulas already use references such as [Source.xlsx], edit those references after pasting or use Data > Edit Links to manage them.
