Weekly Computer Tip # 279
15 August 2009

keyboard shortcut to copy all formatting from one place to another
(Office 2000-2007)

Any keyboard shortcut fanatics out there? If so, do you know there is one for the Format Painter button? Back in November 2004 (tip_90.php) I told you about this nifty button that looks like a paint brush and it still ranks high on my course participants' favourite-tip-I-picked-up-today list. You can use the Format Painter to copy all formatting from text or shapes, such as rectangles, from one place and apply it to another. But you can also use a keyboard shortcut.

Here's how:

1. Select the text or shape that has the formatting to be copied.
2. Press CTRL+SHIFT+C.
3. Select the destination text or shape.
4. Press CTRL+SHIFT+C.

If you have to apply the same formatting to multiple places in your document it might be better to stick to using the Format Painter button, as there is a great trick to do that: simply double-click the Format Painter button and click or drag the mouse pointer over each item in each location. When you're finished click the Format Painter button again or press the ESC(ape) key.

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