How to Copy and Paste (on Steroids!)
Karl Kasca
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This is a quick tutorial on how to Copy and Paste. But this isn't just the usual Copy and Paste commands.  This article will show you how to clear all formatting when copying and pasting.  Also, I'll show you a great little free utility which helps to do this...with the click of a button (or two)!  

Clearing formatting is really helpful when you don't want other people's formatting like Bold, Italics, Underlining, Fonts/Font Sizes, Links to URLs, etc. to be in the document you're copying the information to.  Also this is absolutely critical if you're using information from a document in Microsoft Word, Publisher, etc. or a PDF file and copying it into an HTML editing program  for a webpage or for your eNewsletter in an email marketing service like aWeber, Constant Contact, iContact, etc.

Skip to Videos
 - Note: Since there may be more info of interest/use on the page below, you should at least skim it quickly in addition to viewing the Video below.

TABLE OF CONTENTS



Power Tip & Trick


To just "Cut to the chase", see the 2nd method of Copying & Pasting below and then directly skip to: Copy and Paste (without Formatting) on Steroids (using "Pure Text" utility)!



How to Copy and Paste (for Windows PCs)

1st Method (using Menus)


  1. Highlight Text
  2. Click on "Edit", then click on "Copy"
  3. Put Cursor where you want text
  4. Click on "Edit", then click on "Paste"


1st Method (Using Menus) - Alternative method using <Alt> Key


  1. Highlight Text
  2. Hit <Alt> + "E" key (to Edit) - To go to Menu & Edit
  3. Then hit the "C" key (to Copy)
  4. Put Cursor where you want text
  5. Hit <Alt> + "E" key (to Edit) - To go to Menu & Edit
  6. Then hit the "V" key (to Paste)


2nd Method (using Keyboard Shortcuts)


  1. Highlight Text
  2. Hit <Ctrl> & C (for COPY)
  3. Put Cursor where you want text
  4. Hit <Ctrl> & V (for PASTE)
Note: <Ctrl> is the "Ctrl" key on your keyboard:
(below the Shift keys on a Windows PC keyboard)



Use "Sticky Keys" for Keyboard Shortcuts (like <Ctrl> & C) mentioned above



When using the keyboard shortcuts above you"ll need to use "sticky keys".
This means that you hold down the first key with one finger while placing your finger on the second key.



How to Copy & Paste (for MACs)


1st Method (using Menus)


Go to the menu and under "EDIT", choose Select All (to highlight) and then Copy and
then go to the place where you want the text to be and Paste.

2nd Method (using Keyboard Shortcuts)


  1. Highlight Text
  2. Hit <Command> & C (for COPY)
  3. Put Cursor where you want text
  4. Hit <Command> & V (for PASTE)
Note: <Command> is the "Command" (or "Apple") key on your keyboard:
(below & near the Shift keys on a MAC keyboard)
Image of Command/Apple key for MAC

Request: Since I don't have a MAC, please let me know if there's a way for Windows-enabled MACs to use the "Pure Text" utility mentioned below.  If so, which key do you use on the MAC keyboard to make it work?  Please let me know and I'll include the info into this article and give you credit for it (thanks!).



Copy and Paste (without Formatting) using "Paste Special"


Note: This method strips/eliminates any formatting from text that you're Copying and Pasting from one place to another, e.g., Bold, Italics, Underlining,  Fonts/Font Sizes, Links to URLs, etc. (or combinations of formatting).



1st Method (using Menus)


  1. Highlight Text
  2. Click on "Edit", then click on "Copy"
  3. Put Cursor where you want text
  4. Click on "Edit", then click on "Paste Special"
    1. Note: "Paste Special" is right below Paste on the menu.
  5. Choose "Unformatted Unicode Text"

2nd Method (using Keyboard Shortcuts)


Use "Copy and Paste (without Formatting) on Steroids (using "Pure Text" utility)!" below...



Copy and Paste (without Formatting) on Steroids (using "Pure Text" utility)!


Download and install Steve Miller's little (but Great!) utility program called Pure Text: http://www.stevemiller.net/puretext/.
(Note: For Windows only, sorry MAC users!)

After installing Pure Text, just use Method #2 for Windows PCs above, but use the Windows key instead of the <Ctrl> (control) key.



Power Tip and Trick: Be sure to configure Pure Text to load when Windows starts.


  • Right click on the "PT" icon in the lower right part of your task bar (lowest part of your screen).
  • Make sure there's a checkmark in the checkbox next to: "Automatically run PureText each time I log on to Windows."


Copy and Paste (without Formatting) on Steroids (using Notepad and Extra Step)


Use either method under Copy and Paste (for Windows PCs) above, but:

  • First paste the text to Notepad.
  • Then copy the text from Notepad and paste wherever you want your unformatted text to be.
Reason: Pasting the text into Notepad removes all special formatting.

Downside: This method takes two (2) steps to remove the special formatting, rather than 1 using Pure Text (above).



VIDEO of Copying and Pasting - Windows Keyboard & Sticky Keys






VIDEO of Copying and Pasting - Screencast Tutorial







RESOURCES

Keyboard Shortcuts for Microsoft Office



ARTICLE DATE: 03/24/09
REVISED DATE:






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