Microsoft Updates Microsoft Word Preview, Changes Default Paste Option to Merge Format
Brook.X
Today, Microsoft rolled out a new preview version of Microsoft Word to Microsoft 365 Insider users, with the main update being the optimization of the paste function, allowing users to choose the default paste style in Word.
Currently, Word's paste function provides options such as "Keep Source Formatting," "Merge Formatting," and "Keep Text Only," but many users may have encountered style issues when pasting, as Word's default paste option is "Keep Source Formatting," which may conflict with Word's existing styles, requiring users to readjust.
In practice, the "Merge Formatting" paste option may provide better results, as Word will only retain key styles, reducing the need for users to repeat settings.
In the new preview version of Word, users can choose their preferred default paste format in the "File," "Options," "Advanced," "Cut, Copy, and Paste," and "Paste from other programs" sections. This update changes the default option from "Keep Source Formatting" to "Merge Formatting."
This feature is currently only available in Word for Windows, with a test version number of 2405.17624.15020, and does not support the web version of Word or Mac version of Word.
Here's a breakdown of each paste option:
- Original Web Content: This option preserves the style of the content copied from the web, including bold, shadow, list, and link formatting.
- Keep Source Formatting: When users choose this option, all original formatting and layout properties are preserved, including font color, spacing, and bolding. However, this may conflict with Word's existing styles, requiring users to readjust.
- Merge Formatting: The new "Merge Formatting" option only retains meaningful original formatting, such as bold, underline, list, and table structures, while matching Word's font, size, and color settings, reducing the need for users to repeat settings.
- Keep Text Only: This option remains unchanged, removing all formatting when pasting, and matching the style set in Word.
