Copy and paste into text edit is missing some numbers

Question

Level 1

35 points

Copy and paste into text edit is missing some numbers

I have noticed lately that when I copy an order from my email into text edit, some of the numbers are missing. For instance if my order comes to 24.00 plus shipping and tax and a total, it only pastes the 24.00 and leaves out the rest. I have been trying everything I can think of for the last 24 hours and cannot figure out how to correct it. I have some photos to share.

In the first photo, it shows what text edit copy and paste looks like. The shipping, tax and total are missing. In the second photo, it shows what that costs are from my email in addition to this 24.95. I cannot copy and paste it at all into text edit. Thanks, Martha

Posted on Dec 29, 2022 9:37 AM

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Answer 1

Ben_Z1

Community Specialist

Dec 30, 2022 12:23 PM in response to mpoinar

Hi there Martha,

If copying and pasting into TextEdit isn't working as expected with certain items, first ensure you are following these steps from Keep the correct spacing when you paste text in TextEdit on Mac:

1. In the TextEdit app on your Mac, choose TextEdit > Preferences, then click New Document.

2. Select “Smart copy/paste” under Options.

If this continues after following that, then ensure your Mac is fully updated next. This installs feature enhancements and bug fixes that can resolve unexpected issues like this. This article shows how: Update macOS on Mac

Take care!

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Answer 2

Barney-15E

Level 10

117,406 points

Dec 30, 2022 11:37 AM in response to mpoinar

What format is the source document?

If it is a PDF that was scanned, the OCR might not have picked up all of the text. It also could have picked up the first half of the number in one text box and the other half in another text box.

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Answer 3

Dec 30, 2022 11:59 AM in response to mpoinar

There are two ways to paste what you believe you selected and copied. Compare what you get using the menu commands Paste versus Paste and Match Style. Sometimes there can be surprising underlying formatting, as the other responder hinted. This formatting might be fouling your efforts.

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Answer 4

mpoinar Author

Level 1

35 points

Dec 30, 2022 2:15 PM in response to Barney-15E

The source document was an email in my MAIL program. I noticed that if I forward it to my outlook email program, I can copy and paste all the information with no problem so it has to be from the MAIL program.

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