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When pasting text from Web into MS Word it will not keep the color formatting shown on the web

Anonymous
2022-08-15T17:00:05+00:00

I am using Windows 11 (64-bit) and Office Professional Plus 2021 running locally on my PC.

I have double-checked that all updates have been installed. It says that I have Microsoft Word 2021 MSO (Version 2207 Build 16.0.15427.20182) 64-bit

For quite a while I have been copying code snippets from the web. These snippets were formatted very carefully using indents, all lower case, and various parts of the code were done in different colors. The code was part of a programming tutorial I was going through.

When I wanted to copy a code snippet I would select the code I wanted, and use CTRL-C (to copy)(I also tried using the menu command copy). I would then go to the Word document and use CTRL-V (to paste)(I also tried using the menu command paste) and what I had pasted retained all the formatting as it was displayed on the web page.

One day I went to continue this tutorial and when I pasted the copied code it retained the formatting, except for the colors. The pasted code was in standard black text. I liked it when the code was in colors as it helped me see what I wanted to see and understand the different parts of the code and what was happening.

To this day, it will not paste in color. Here are the things I have tried:

  1. I went to a totally different website that contained colored text. It would not retain the colors when pasting in Word using CTRL-C and CTRL-V.
  2. When using the menu paste function the only option displayed was "keep text only"
  3. In Word I went to File -> Options -> Advanced and went to the cut, copy, and paste options in word and all of the settings were "Keep Source Formatting" I also insured that the Show Paste Options when content is pasted box was selected.
  4. I have dug around the web to try to find answers and have found nothing.

Is this a Word problem or a Windows problem?

What is the solution?

This worked just fine when I started and worked for over a month until one day it stopped working. I have no idea if I did something to cause this or what could have happened.

If you can offer any solutions, I would be very grateful

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | Other | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-08-17T09:44:14+00:00

    Hi, Jgnordby. Thank you for your question and reaching out. My name is John and I’d be more than happy to help you with your query.

    This is something that I have experienced before I highly suggest you to check https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/20156a41-520e-48a6-8680-fb9ce15bf3d6 on how to fix this kind of issue.

    Best regards, John

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-08-16T09:40:10+00:00

    I just tried closing everything, rebooting windows, and going back to the part of the site where the copy and paste worked as I liked it (it is on the same site, just a different section). I followed the same procedure (CTRL-C and CTRL-V) and it pasted the text in color just like I want. I then went to the area where I am working now (again, the same website) and tried to copy & paste. It did NOT paste the text in color, just black text. So, I am guessing that the website has something to do with the problem (????).

    I then tried to copy from the site and paste it into the editor I use for coding (UEStudio) (when I create my code in UEStudio I can create it in color). It pasted in black and white. However, when I saved the file and then reopened it, it was in color. I then tried to copy paste this text into word and it pasted in black and white, not color. Of note is that just as when I pasted from the website using the word menu commands, the only paste option was text only.

    I am not sure what I should do. I am thinking it is just something I must accept.

    p.s. I should state that when I say it is pasting in black and white instead of color, another way to say this is that it is pasting just the text only (the black and white) and not keeping the original formatting from the website (the color)

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-08-17T16:23:10+00:00

    Thank you for your reply

    I have gone through those options and set them so that Word "should" keep source formatting when pasting from another program. It did not work.

    I tried this issue out on my new laptop and got the same result as on my PC.

    After all the efforts so far, I firmly believe the problem is not with Word. It is something to do with the website I am working from (W3 Schools). I say this because;

    1. If I go back to my first class I can copy and paste keeping the color formatting just fine.
    2. I have just found a weird workaround. W3 Schools has an editor where I can create a blank file. If I use this blank file as an intermediary (cut from class, paste in a file, copy from the file, paste into Word) the text in Word has the proper color formatting.

    I am going to send a message to W3Schools to see what they say about this.

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-08-15T19:19:50+00:00

    I’m sorry this hasn’t helped. Have you tried a different document?

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  5. Anonymous
    2022-08-15T17:43:11+00:00

    Hi,

    Thank you for reaching out to us today. I’m Kevin and I’m happy to to help you out with your question.

    When you paste text into the Word document, the text takes on the formatting of Normal style in the recipient document. If the Normal style in the document is Arial 11pt, and black, that's how your text will appear.

    I hope this information is helpful. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please reach back out and I will be more than happy to assist you.

    Best Regards, Kevin

    Give back to the Community. Help the next person who has this issue by indicating if this reply solved your problem. Click Yes or No below.

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