AppleScripts for Pasting Text

contributed by Daiya Mitchell and Paul Berkowitz

Applies to: Word 2008, Word 2004

You can use these AppleScripts to access Paste Special functions in just a single click.

What's the Difference Between These Two Scripts?

Paste Text Unformatted does exactly what it says. Paste Text Matching Destination Format will change the underlying font and style, but if individual words are italicized or bold, it keeps those single-word emphases.

You can also access these functions by using the Paste Options clipboard, which appears at the end of a paste and lets you choose Keep Text Only, Match Destination Formatting or Keep Source Formatting. The Paste Options clipboard can be turned on and off in Preferences>Edit.

"Help! How do I turn these into something I can use?" Installing an AppleScript in MacWord

Paste Text Unformatted

tell application "Microsoft Word"
paste special (text object of selection) data type paste text
end tell

Word 2008 or later: Save the script in ~/Documents/Microsoft User Data/Word Script Menu Items.

You can append a keyboard shortcut to the end of the filename—for instance, name it "Paste Without Formatting.scpt \cV" in the script menu to paste via control+V .

Paste Text Matching Destination Format

tell application "Microsoft Word"
paste and format (text object of selection) type format surrounding formatting with emphasis
end tell

Word 2008 or later: Save the script in ~/Documents/Microsoft User Data/Word Script Menu Items.

You can append a keyboard shortcut to the end of the filename—for instance, name it “Paste Matching Destination Format.scpt \coV” to run it via control+option+V.