How to insert a matrix from a website into a sheet?

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  • Thread starter Thread starter Adel Makram
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around methods for inserting a matrix obtained from a website into an Excel sheet, focusing on ensuring that each cell in the matrix corresponds to a separate cell in Excel. The conversation includes various approaches, challenges, and potential solutions related to copying and pasting data.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest using the copy and paste feature, while others note that this often results in data being inserted into a single cell.
  • Several participants propose using the "Paste Special" menu to select different paste options, including unformatted text.
  • There are recommendations to paste the data into a document and convert it to a CSV file, although some participants report difficulties with this method.
  • One participant mentions the need for Google Drive to be installed for copying data from Google Sheets to Excel.
  • Participants discuss using the "Text to Columns" feature in Excel to split data after pasting it into a single cell, with some confirming its effectiveness.
  • There are suggestions for manually adding commas if the matrix is small or writing a program to automate the process for larger datasets.
  • Some participants recall using a text wizard feature in Excel for similar tasks, indicating familiarity with various methods.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of methods and experiences, with no consensus on a single best approach. Some methods are confirmed to work by multiple participants, while others remain untested or disputed.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the potential need for specific software installations (like Google Drive) and the varying effectiveness of different methods depending on the format of the original data.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals looking to transfer matrix data from websites into Excel, particularly those encountering challenges with formatting and data organization.

Adel Makram
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Say, I have a matrix which I obtained from a website for matrix calculation, how to insert it into an excel so as for each cell in the matrix, there is a corresponding cell in the excel sheet?
 
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Have you tried copy and paste ?

Also some apps will have a paste special menu where you can select paste options like unformatted or preserve formatting that you could try.
 
jedishrfu said:
Have you tried copy and paste ?

Also some apps will have a paste special menu where you can select paste options like unformatted or preserve formatting that you could try.
Trying pasting it into excel, leads to insertion in the first cell only.
 
So did you see if there's a paste special?

Another idea is to paste in a document and adjust it to be a csv file, a comma separated variable file.

You could also try pasting it into googles spreadsheet and then copying from there to yours.

Google will have an export feature too where you can mark cells and rxport as a csv.
 
jedishrfu said:
So did you see if there's a paste special?

Another idea is to paste in a document and adjust it to be a csv file, a comma separated variable file.

You could also try pasting it into googles spreadsheet and then copying from there to yours.

Google will have an export feature too where you can mark cells and rxport as a csv.
It is not working in google spreadsheet. Regarding, csv file, I have no option to do so when I saved the file into the MS word.
 
So you want to copy a spreadsheet from google to excel? That should work. Is it only numbers?

Do you have google drive installed? Google won't let you copy if its not installed as it can't access your local clipboard without google drive software running.
 
jedishrfu said:
So you want to copy a spreadsheet from google to excel? That should work. Is it only numbers?

Do you have google drive installed? Google won't let you copy if its not installed as it can't access your local clipboard without google drive software running.
The attached image is a matrix from a site for matrix calculation, I just want to past it into excel so that each number occupies one cell!
 

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Adel Makram said:
Trying pasting it into excel, leads to insertion in the first cell only.

After you have the data pasted into the first cell, select "Text to Columns" from the Data menu. This will allow you to split it into separate columns. You can choose the delimiter to be spaces, commas, or whatever.
 
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phyzguy said:
After you have the data pasted into the first cell, select "Text to Columns" from the Data menu. This will allow you to split it into separate columns. You can choose the delimiter to be spaces, commas, or whatever.
wow, it works, thank you very much
 
  • #10
When I used the copy/paste feature, MS Excel had a little menu next to the paste location where you could specify using the text wizard where you selected fixed column text which did the same thing.

Glad Phyzguy's suggestion worked for you.
 
  • #11
phyzguy said:
After you have the data pasted into the first cell, select "Text to Columns" from the Data menu. This will allow you to split it into separate columns. You can choose the delimiter to be spaces, commas, or whatever.
Interesting, I never paid attention to that button. Every once in a great while that would have come in handy. Now if I can just remember about it when the next time comes around...
 
  • #12
Adel Makram said:
Regarding, csv file, I have no option to do so when I saved the file into the MS word.
How many entries does the table have? If it's not a huge number and you need to do it only once, you could simply add the commas by hand.

If you know some programming language, you could write a program to read the data and write it back out again with commas or tabs. This is worthwhile only if there's a huge number of entries, or you need to do it repeatedly.
 
  • #13
jedishrfu said:
a little menu next to the paste location where you could specify using the text wizard
Aha, now I remember the text wizard. You also get it if you save the table into a text file, then open that file in Excel. That's how I've used it.
 

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