Skip to content
ListDiff

Excel paste tips

Last updated: 2026-08-02

Pasted from Excel or Google Sheets and the compare looks wrong? Start here. Copy a column, paste it cleanly, and avoid tab-separated surprises.

  1. Select a single column in Excel and copy it.
  2. Paste into List A or List B in ListDiff.
  3. If one pasted line holds several values separated by tabs, turn on split-by-tab so each value becomes its own item.
  4. Leave trim spaces on if cells may have accidental padding.
  5. Compare, then check only in A, only in B, and both.

When this helps

  • You copied cells from a spreadsheet (not a saved file).
  • You need a quick check without formulas.
  • You want the compare to stay in your browser—no account required.

When to split by tab

  • Turn it on when one pasted line contains several tab-separated values.
  • Leave it off when each line is already one item.
  • Not sure? Try both and see which unique counts look right.

Common pitfall

Excel pastes differently depending on what you selected. When in doubt, paste into a blank cell first and confirm you have one item per line before comparing.

If something looks off

  • No overlap? Check letter case first.
  • Too many rows? Look for blank lines and trailing spaces.
  • Counts look wrong? Check whether split-by-tab is on.

Example

List A paste: u001 then a tab then u002 on one line
List B paste: u002 then a tab then u003
Setting: split by tab on
Result: both includes u002; A only has u001; B only has u003.

Before you share the result

  • Check duplicates for repeated IDs.
  • Make sure the unique counts roughly match what you expect.
  • Download a CSV and spot-check the first few rows in Excel.

FAQ

Should I paste one column or multiple columns?

Prefer one value per line. If you pasted several values on one line (tabs), turn on split-by-tab on purpose.

Why do I see many empty items?

The sheet probably had blank rows or empty cells. Skip blank lines and trim spaces.

Related guides

Back to the tool