Text Formatting Changes When Cut/Pasting

  • Thread starter Thread starter JoeT
  • Start date Start date
J

JoeT

I seem to have this problem in both Word and PowerPoint
(2002), but it really irks me to no end.

While cutting text from one part of a slide and pasting
it to another (even within the same text block), the text
formatting changes completely. Why can't the default be
to retain the formatting of the "cut" text?

I can't find anything in the Tools section to "disable"
this feature (if it is one).
 
I seem to have this problem in both Word and PowerPoint
(2002), but it really irks me to no end.

While cutting text from one part of a slide and pasting
it to another (even within the same text block), the text
formatting changes completely. Why can't the default be
to retain the formatting of the "cut" text?

I can't find anything in the Tools section to "disable"
this feature (if it is one).
Click to expand...

In Word, you have to deal with the text styles when you copy/paste text. If
you copy the paragraph mark at the end of the paragraph, the formatting (the
applied style) comes along. If you miss the par. mark when you select and
copy, the text takes on the formatting (style) of the new paragraph. (turn
on the par marks at Tools>Options>View)

In Ppt, the text boxes have a format (style) that is defined in the slide
master or title master. The pasted text takes on the format you have defined
(or was defined by default) in the relevant master.

If you do a lot of selecting individual words, sentences, and paragraphs,
then applying font sizes and bolds and margins and stuff, you're going to
have to deal with this wierdness. In Word, learning to use the power of
styles is worth every second of the effort. In Ppt, you're just kinda stuck,
since it doesn't have styles.

John O
 
You could also try the "format painter" tool in PowerPoint (or Word).
Copy the format you want to use, before you paste the text into the new area and then reapply that format.
This can sometime be more easily achieved useing the shortcut keys
cntrl,alt,c: to copy format
cntrl, alt v: to paste format
instead of thet format painting icon
 
Thank you John.

I'd not thought of the Styles before. At least in Word,
I can make some effort to minimize the oddities by
defining some basic styles.

In PowerPoint though, as you say, I guess I just have to
learn to live with the enhancement (cough). Seems like
PP is basically saying, "we know what you really meant to
do, so let us change it all around for you!" I'd prefer
to have a switch somewhere that would make it dafault
to "retain original formatting when cutting/pasting"
instead of adhering to the Master format.

Thanks again.
Joe
 
Hi Joe,

JoeT said:
I seem to have this problem in both Word and PowerPoint
(2002), but it really irks me to no end.

While cutting text from one part of a slide and pasting
it to another (even within the same text block), the text
formatting changes completely. Why can't the default be
to retain the formatting of the "cut" text?

I can't find anything in the Tools section to "disable"
this feature (if it is one).
Click to expand...

immediately after you pasted in the "cut" text, you should notice a small
square with the "Paste" icon at the right (or left) bottom corner of it, the
so called "SmartTag". On mouse over it displays an arrow down which opens a
small context menu. There you can choose "Keep source format" or "Apply
master format" (or something like that - I don't know the exact English
wording, because I'm using the German version of PowerPoint). With this you
can change back to the "old" format.

Another thing you might try is "Extras - AutoCorrect" and disable the check
box "Automatic Layout" and see whether it does what you want.

Kind regards,
Ute
 
Seems like
PP is basically saying, "we know what you really meant to
do, so let us change it all around for you!"
Click to expand...

Yep, it does. It needs more switches, too. Try that tip from Ute, I haven't
used SmartTags yet.

John O
 
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