Excel paste: use TSV (tabs)
Last updated: 2026-04-13
This guide is for users who export or copy table data from Excel, Google Sheets, or Numbers and need reliable list comparison results without format surprises.
- Select a single column in Excel and copy it.
- Paste into List A or List B in ListDiff.
- If you pasted multiple cells from a row (values separated by tabs), you may want Split long lines with Tab as delimiter—especially when a single logical “line” contains multiple values.
- Enable Ignore leading/trailing spaces if your cells include accidental padding.
- Run Compare lists and inspect A only, B only, and intersection first.
When this guide is the right fit
- You copy data directly from spreadsheet cells, not from exported files.
- You need quick ad-hoc comparisons during analysis or QA checks.
- You want local processing without account linking or connector setup.
When to enable split-by-tab
- Enable it when one pasted line actually contains multiple tab-separated values.
- Disable it when each line already represents one final compare item.
- If unsure, test both modes quickly and compare key counts in the stats area.
Common pitfall
Excel may paste differently depending on selection shape. When in doubt, paste into a scratch cell first and confirm you truly have one item per line in the tool.
Troubleshooting checklist
- No intersection? Check case sensitivity first.
- Unexpected extra rows? Check blank lines and trailing spaces.
- Counts look wrong? Verify whether split delimiters are enabled.
Input -> option -> output example
Input A: u001\tu002
Input B: u002\tu003
Option: Split long lines ON + Tab delimiter
Output: Intersection includes u002, A only includes u001, B only includes u003.
Quality control before sharing results
- Check duplicates tabs to catch repeated IDs before sending reports.
- Confirm stats panel key counts match your expected unique item scale.
- Export a tab as CSV and spot-check the first 20 rows in Excel.
FAQ
Should I paste one column or multiple columns?
Prefer one logical compare value per line. For multi-column rows, use split-by-tab intentionally.
Why do I see many empty items?
Your source likely includes blank rows or whitespace-only cells. Enable ignore-empty and trim options.
Related guides
Next step: Export results to Excel or review Compare Basics.