Weekly Computer Tip # 352
22 October 2011


Reuse formatting using the format painter shortcut (Office 2000 - 2010)

Back in June I dusted off an oldie but a goodie: the "format painter". It told you how to copy the text formatting from one area of a document and apply it to another area using the Format Painter button (see tip_343.php) following which one of the tip subscribers emailed this wonderful keyboard shortcut. (Thanks, Maarten!)

Here's how:

  1. Select the text that has the formatting that you want to apply to other areas.
  2. Press CTRL + SHIFT + C (to copy the formatting).
  3. Select the text that you want to format and press CTRL + SHIFT + V (to paste the formatting).

As you may remember from one of the earlier tips: F4 repeats the last action you performed so to quickly apply the text format to another area, simply select the area and press F4.

By the way, I cannot get the format painter shortcut to work in Excel so you'll have to use your mouse or have another look at last week's tip and create a little macro. (See tip_351.php)

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