SPSS Statistics

SPSS Statistics

Your hub for statistical analysis, data management, and data documentation. Connect, learn, and share with your peers! 

 View Only

  • 1.  Change default format when copying tables from output

    Posted Fri January 10, 2025 06:39 AM

    Hello,

    I often copy and paste tables from output into Excel. If I just  use ctrl+c, ctrl+v, I get a formatted table in Excel with merged cells, etc. I would like it as plain text. I can right click on a table in output and select "copy as" and  "plain text", or I can paste as values in Excel to get what I want, but these options involve more actions, and I would like the "copy as plain text" to be the default way of copying tables in output. I believe that I could change the default way of copying tables in previous versions of SPSS, but haven't found this option in version 29. 

    Does anyone know how to do this? 

    Many thanks!

    Sebastiaan



    ------------------------------
    s hess
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Change default format when copying tables from output

    Posted Fri January 10, 2025 09:58 AM
    There isn't a way to change the default copy type in the Viewer.  Alternatives would be to use OMS to capture the table type of interest and save it as an Excel file or to use File > Export.

    If you use the plain Copy, however, in Excel you could use Paste Special and choose text as the format.  You could add Paste Special to the quick-access toolbar in Excel, which would save you a click


    --



    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Change default format when copying tables from output

    Posted Sat January 11, 2025 05:47 AM
    Edited by s hess Sat January 11, 2025 05:48 AM

    Thank you Jon for the quick and thoughtful response.

    Shame that's not possible. Just out of curiosity, am I right in remembering that this was an option in older versions? I recall using right click on a table and under "copy as" there was then an option to set the default. 

    I usually use the shortcuts in Excel (so ctrl+alt+v for paste special, then "u" for uniform text). Thought I'd mention that in case it helps anyone else. Fairly quick, but still an extra step beyond just ctrl+v.

    Cheers,

    Sebastiaan



    ------------------------------
    s hess
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Change default format when copying tables from output

    Posted Sat January 11, 2025 10:15 AM
    There might have been an option to set a default at one time.

    There is a Copy Special method that includes a plain text option available in the Python Viewer apis, so you could presumably create a little app that copies the selection as plain text and set it up as a toolbar icon.  This would take some work, though, and it might be slow.


    --



    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Change default format when copying tables from output

    Posted Wed January 22, 2025 04:19 PM

    Thanks Jon,

    Again, I appreciate you're thinking of creative solutions.  I think for now I'll stick with my shortcut keys, as it is relatively easy and quick.

    Cheers,

    Sebastiaan



    ------------------------------
    s hess
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


Related Content