thanks for your reply.
I copy from anything from a spreadsheet in the workbook - no problem pasting
it.
when I copy from another workbook (cell, column, anything), and open up the
next workbook to paste it - the ants stop marching and paste is not
available.
the only way I can get it there is to show the clipboard, copy, go to the
next workbook and pick the starting cell, go to the clipboard and paste - but
then it is as though I did a past values - no formulas are carried over.
I was trying to figure out if I inadvertantly prohibited pasting in another
book. I don't believe that protection is on in my blank workbooks - I can
add from the keyboard.
note, I don't have this problem on my laptop - which is excel 03.
thanks.