How can I keep my text format after pasting a text with a different format?

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Level 1

126 points

How can I keep my text format after pasting a text with a different format?

No matter when and where I start to write some text (whether it is a SImpleText, E-Mails, or anyother application's doc), if I have to cut and paste a text from a different source that is formatted differently than my original text (ie. the one I am already using ), once I have pasted the differently formatted text in my doc, the typeset changes while it continues to type with the same formatt used in the text I just pasted.

How can I continue typing with the same text formatt used before pasting the new text, after pasting the new text, without having to change size, font style etc. Is there a short cut?

What I have been doing to avoid this problem is: I usually type my entire text content (whether it is an E-Mail, or other doc) then, once I am done typing, I paste the text that was cut from a differently formatted document, so that my text remains with the same formatt in its integrity, while the pasted text stands out differently, but it is a bit complex doing that , because I not only have to remember to paste the other text when I am done typing (I run the risk of forgetting to paste the text I need to insert--which has happened already) or I keep struggling with my formatt change after the pasting of the new text, so my document text starts looking like the same text as the one which was just pasted.

Thanks for your time reading this!

iMac, MacBook, iPhone 4, iPod touch 4, Mac OS X (10.6.8), intel core 2 duo;

Posted on Jan 5, 2012 5:35 PM

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Answer 1

kurt188

Level 4

1,340 points

Jan 5, 2012 6:16 PM in response to KerrBr

I think you're making this too difficult for yourself, when it's really very simple. TextEdit (like most well-behaving text-based applications) does not force you to go back and forth to correct text that's been pasted in a different font or size. The solution is very easy.

To paste text that you have copied into a document where you've already entered some text, you just choose "Paste and Match Style" from the Edit menu of that text application (even Mail). That preserves the formatting attributes you already have in that document, without having to type everything in, then go back and change the formatting for words, sentences, and paragraphs later.

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Answer 2

fane_j

Level 4

3,704 points

Jan 5, 2012 7:37 PM in response to KerrBr

KerrBr wrote:

How can I continue typing with the same text formatt used before pasting the new text, after pasting the new text, without having to change size, font style etc. Is there a short cut?

(1) First, let's make sure we're talking about the same thing. By "SImpleText, E-Mails" you mean TextEdit and Mail, right?

(2) Some apps (TextEdit, Mail) use the text engine provided by Mac OS X. By and large, these apps will behave in a similar manner. Others (eg, MS Word) use their own text engine, and their behaviour can be quite different. For such an app you need to consult its manual.

(3) In TextEdit, if you want the pasted text to adopt the current style, then use kurt188's tip.

(4) However, if you may want the pasted text to retain its own attributes, while you continue to type in the previous style. I don't know of any shortcut or command that will achieve this. However, you can try to work around it.

(4.1) TextEdit has the Copy Style (⌘⌥C) and Paste Style (⌘⌥V) commands. If you haven't yet used it, ⌘⌥V will insert the default style. So type, paste, ⌘⌥V, then continue typing. If you have used, it will insert whatever style was copied. You can, type, ⌘V, click somewhere before the pasted text, ⌘⌥C, click after the pasted text, ⌘⌥V, and continue typing.

(4.2) Alternatively, type your text. Then type one more character, eg, "x". Then ←, ⌘V, ⇧→, and start typing. The new text should adopt "x"'s format. (This should work in Mail, too. I don't know, because IMHO e-mail should always be plain text.)

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Answer 3

KerrBr Author

Level 1

126 points

Jan 6, 2012 2:45 PM in response to kurt188

Thank you, Kurt, for your help! But, I like keeping the different copied text format to stand out from my own original text. Your tips is helpful though, if I just want to keep it all with the same typeset!

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Answer 4

KerrBr Author

Level 1

126 points

Jan 6, 2012 3:19 PM in response to fane_j

Thanks, Fane! I much appreciate your detailed reply! I tried your (4.1) suggestions. The typing of ⌘⌥C before pasting and then ⌘⌥V after the new copied text worked interestingly well in TextEdit. (Oh, and yes, I ment TextEdit. My head and eyes were in Snow Leopard, but my fingers were still typing OS 9 stuff with that SimpleText typo. In fact I still do not know why Apple ever changed that text appl name. It was not broken, why did they "fixed" it!?! I always end up mistakenly referring to it as SimpleText 🙂. "Mea Culpa"). As for mail, I hardly use it. Most of my mail goes via the www mail that is why I mentioned E-Mail. Sorry for the confusion!

By the way, I also tried the ⌘⌥C in my web mail (Yahoo) and that does not work. It causes similar behavior than that if I do that ⌘⌥C here within this window when copying your "⌘⌥C" symbols which I did not know how to type it (ie. it causes a new window with what looks like Java Script with a promp command to open up -- split window). Yet, your alternative method of typing an extra x before pasting the new material and then, pasting my new material before the x while proceeding to continue typing after the very x is also a method I have used before, when I remember to do it. Occasionally I forget to erase the x when doing that method! thus, I was looking for new easier ways to do that and not to mess up my text.

Thanks for the TextEdit ⌘⌥C tip. I just wish it would work in my Web mail too! It will work great in the future and also if I write some long mail on TextEdit first, and then copying it all to a new E-Mail page in my Yahoo!Mail.

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Answer 5

fane_j

Level 4

3,704 points

Jan 6, 2012 4:26 PM in response to KerrBr

KerrBr wrote:

my fingers were still typing OS 9 stuff with that SimpleText typo.

TeachText, anyone? (I guess that really dates me.)

Mea Culpa

Te absolvo! No need to apologise, just making sure we're talking about the same thing.

I also tried the ⌘⌥C in my web mail (Yahoo)

That only works in apps like TextEdit, which provide Copy/Paste Style commands. Web browsers generally don't.

Occasionally I forget to erase the x when doing that method!

Try a space instead of x (this way, if you forget to delete it, it's not a big deal). If you use this method often, then it's probably best to get a macro/shortcuts manager. I use Spark

<http://www.shadowlab.org/Software/spark>

which is free. You could programme it so that a convenient shortcut, say ⌘⌥⇧V, triggers the sequence

x,←,⌘V,⇧→,

(the last character is a blank space). Once you get accustomed to it, you might find quite a few other uses for Spark (or any other app of this type).

Thanks

You're welcome -- glad I could help.

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