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I have been using Excel for a long time and I have never had problems with the Format Painter to copy formatting to rows. Today when I click on the button the cell would look like it had a selection box around it for a split second and then it would disappear instantly making it unable to paste formatting again.
Not sure if it is a related issue but when I copy "CTRL + X" usually you would see a selection box around the cell that was "Cut" but the same thing happens here where it would deselect. It still lets me paste what I cut but the only thing is the original data is still there after I have pasted. It also does not allow me to copy normally and paste formatting as it only gives me the options for "Unicode Text" and "Text".
Please someone help because I need this for work :(
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Skype has released an updated version of the Click to Call browser add-on that should be free of the problem mentioned above.
If you want it, go to http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/get-skype/on-your-computer/click-to-call/windows/ and click Download Now.
Do you have Skype installed? I started having these problems last Thursday 16 March using both IE8 (cannot go to IE9 as my printer driver does not yet support it) but also fails with Google Chrome. I also found it would not cut and paste formulae. Closing all browsers fixes it but is so frustrating. A 'repair' did not resolve anything.
However I retraced everything I did just before the error and I seem to have fixed the issue by uninstalling SKYPE and then reinstalling it. So far I have been able to open excel spreadsheets and IE8 and Google Chrome and I am currently still able to happily use format painter and cut and past formulae. I haven't yet used Skype but shall leave that test for later as I am too far behind on the excel work I need to do.
The problem is solved by uninstalling skype 'click to call'. This can be done separately. It is not clear however what the connection between Skype and Excel is.