Default formatting of pasted text

[etcstgo]

As revealed in the Paste options button, formatting of pasted text
defaults to "Keep Source Formatting". The other two options available
to those willing to use the intrusive, time-consuming Paste options
button are "Match Destination Formatting" and "Keep Text Only".

In Word 2004, I used a lifesaver of a one-line macro that instructed
the Paste command to default to text only. But as we know and regret,
support for macros has been stripped from Word 2008.

Question: Under Word 2008, is there any way to set the default
formatting of pasted text to anything other than "Keep Source
Formatting"? That seems to me like an eminently obvious candidate for
an overall preference you change once. I can't imagine the current fix-
as-you-go approach as the only option, but I have been unable to find
how to change it.

As someone who pastes into Word from other sources all the time,
having to fix unwanted formatting at every turn is truly a deal-
breaker.

Patricio Mason
Santiago, Chile

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

It doesn't change the default setting, but you can assign cmd-v to use
the script to paste unformatted. Various options here:
http://word.mvps.org/mac/Scripts/PasteTextAS.html

You might be one to prefer the Tidbits variant, linked from there,
otherwise the cursor flips back to the beginning of the paste.

Send Feedback to request a preference. Considering the demand for this,
I think it must be more complicated to implement than we imagine.

 

[etcstgo]

You might be one to prefer the Tidbits variant, linked from there,
otherwise the cursor flips back to the beginning of the paste.

Great stuff; that'll do for now.

Send Feedback to request a preference.

Sure will. Thanks!

 

[etcstgo]

It doesn't change the default setting, but you can assign cmd-v to use
the script to paste unformatted.  Various options here:http://word.mvps.org/mac/Scripts/PasteTextAS.html

You might be one to prefer the Tidbits variant, linked from there,
otherwise the cursor flips back to the beginning of the paste.

Well, trouble in paradise. Neither script works in Preference windows.
I tried to paste a term into the AutoCorrect panel and the scripts
just won't work. Instead, they keep pasting into the (now inactive)
document window. "Paste from Scrapbook" (Command-Shift-V) works, for
some reason.

However, neither script will do smart pasting, i.e. add spaces as
needed. Smart pasting prevents words from bunching together
("takentogether", for example) and will correctly add a space to
produce "taken together".

The scripts won't do this, unfortunately. MacBU, please make this a
preference ASAP.

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Well, trouble in paradise. Neither script works in Preference windows.
I tried to paste a term into the AutoCorrect panel and the scripts
just won't work. Instead, they keep pasting into the (now inactive)
document window. "Paste from Scrapbook" (Command-Shift-V) works, for
some reason.

Interesting, but I suspect an inherent limitation of AppleScript.

But, why would you need a Paste *Unformatted* into the AutoCorrect
window? Your problem here sounds to be that you will have to learn to
use at least two different commands for pasting, so assigning cmd-V to
the script may not work for you.

However, neither script will do smart pasting, i.e. add spaces as
needed. Smart pasting prevents words from bunching together
("takentogether", for example) and will correctly add a space to
produce "taken together".

Smart pasting should only affect the space right before and right after
the paste--which, honestly, you ought to be able to handle yourself. Are
you seeing something different? That is, if you copy "takentogether",
you will still get "takentogether". If you reliably never enter the
space after "taken" before pasting "together", I suppose you could
hard-code it in. I doubt there's any way to force the script to invoke
Word's smart cut and paste, although a better AppleScripter than me
might be able to finesse something that checks for an existing space and
changes the script's action depending on it.

MacBU, please make this a
preference ASAP.

You aren't talking to MacBU here, as you know. But you should be sure
to explain to them the reasons why the script workaround does not meet
your needs, as I suspect issues without a feasible workaround move up
the priority list.

 

[etcstgo]

But, why would you need a Paste *Unformatted* into the AutoCorrect window?

I don't, of course. It's simply a matter of having assigned Command-V
to the script and expecting it to, well, paste stuff.

Smart pasting should only affect the space right before and right after
the paste--which, honestly, you ought to be able to handle yourself.

Since AppleScripts are advertised as the replacement for macro
support, I guess I was expecting the script to work the same way as
the macro I use in Word 2004. No such luck.

Are you seeing something different? That is, if you copy "takentogether",
you will still get "takentogether".

Obviously. What I meant is that if I paste the word "together" right
after "taken" without a space, said space gets added by smart pasting.

You aren't talking to MacBU here, as you know.

Rhetorical lament only. By now I have the MacBU feedback page
bookmarked.

But you should be sure to explain to them the reasons why the script workaround does not meet
your needs, as I suspect issues without a feasible workaround move up the priority list.

Interesting take. I'll use it.

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Since AppleScripts are advertised as the replacement for macro
support, I guess I was expecting the script to work the same way as
the macro I use in Word 2004. No such luck.

Marketing spin.... No such luck. Macros are internal, scripts are
external. A number of issues arise from that.

Interesting take. I'll use it.

well--in this particular case, I doubt anything will make a difference,
since VBA is coming back. But a developer talks about triaging bugs
here, and workarounds do make a difference, so it's a good idea to give
them the data that the workaround is not sufficient.
http://www.schwieb.com/blog/2008/05/13/mac-office-2008-sp1/