Paste Text and Match Formatting, now available in AE Beta 25.2.0.117

[jenkmeister]

A new option for pasting text from one text layer to another text layer is now available in AE Beta 25.2.0.117.

The Paste Text and Match Formatting menu option, available under the Edit menu as well as in the right-click menu when editing a text layer, will paste the copied text into a text layer using the font and style as set in the destination text layer. The existing Paste option will continue to paste text using the copied font and style.

From the Edit menu, choose Paste Text and Match Formatting when editing a text layer.

Right-Click in a text layer while editing and choose Paste Text and Match Formatting.

Please try it out and let us know how it works for you.

[Todd_Morgan]

Works!! But AE crashed after that when closing app

[_nicdean]

Hey, this is a great direction! Please check the Style Bandit plugin: https://aescripts.com/style-bandit/

I built it to Copy/Paste text formatting between Text Layers.

• The most-recently copied text style is saved to a .json and can then be pasted across comps, projects, AE versions, etc.
• This plugin released in 2023 and added features as the text scripting API has expanded.
• 2,000 users

There are many cases where I want to copy + paste the text style only, and NOT the Source Text contents. Consider adding a built-in "Paste Style" option. I'll happily sunset the plugin once this is a native feature to AE. Thx

[jenkmeister]

Thanks! We are looking at Paste Formatting Only functionality and hope to add it into Beta once it is ready. 

[_nicdean]

Yessss! I would love Paste Style only. For what it's worth, here's my input on pasting text formatting behavior.

• Style Bandit copies text formatting from the 1st character and pastes that style to ALL characters of a secondary layer. This works great the majority of the time.
• I can see benefit to copy/pasting mixed styles. This is more complicated to solve (do we paste by character index, paste by percentage, etc.)

Personally I prefer the 1st version, but mixed fonts in the origin Text Layer is something to consider.

[jenkmeister]

Implementation so far is based on the 1st character in the copied text and you can paste the format to another selected set of characters in the same or any other text layer. Pasting to the whole layer of text at once is something being looked as well. 

[_nicdean]

Awesome news! I'm glad to hear this is on the roadmap, and thanks for the details

[billm14438244]

Hey Nic, 

Hope you are well! I tried to use the Style Bandit plugin today for making end credits in After Effects but it doesn't work with versions 23 onwards. I am currently using version 25 and also tried to open it with 23 but I keep getting the error message "Can't import file Style bandit plugin, unsupported filtype or extension". Do you happen to have a version that would work with these as it would be very helpful! Thanks

[_nicdean]

@billm14438244 The plugin works AE 2022 - 2025 on both Mac + PC. Did you install the plugin correctly? Plugins need to be installed in a specific manner. Use the aescripts + aeplugins manager app to ensure installation is correct.  If you have trouble after reinstalling, please file a support ticket on aescripts for product help.

[Yusuf31100952edjz]

Style Bandit worked just fine but now, after 16 days when I tried to use it again it gives me an error "`pasteTextStylesMograph_v24` Error SyntaxError: Expected: :"  

I tried each and everything, re-installing script, updating after effects etc, it worked once, then it didn't. It's still working in my friend's mac

[_nicdean]

Hey yusuf, we got your support ticket on aescripts. I'll ask for details in that ticket thread and we'll try to fix it.

[jenkmeister]

As a note, this Paste Text and Match Formatting feature shipped with the 25.2.2 update (last week). Paste Formatting Only is still in development. I will follow up when it is available in Beta builds.

[jenkmeister]

Paste Text Formatting Only is now available in AE Beta builds starting with 25.4x65.

To use, first Copy at least one character from the text you want to source the formatting from. Then select either the text layer or the text characters you want to apply the formatting onto. Either right-click and select Paste Text Formatting Only, or from the EDIT menu, select Paste Text Formatting Only. You can also apply the formatting to multiple text layers at once - just select them all and use the new menu item. 

 

 

Let us know how this works for you!

[_nicdean]

Great update! Couple notes from my testing:

#1.

Currently to copy formatting, we have to drill down and highlight characters with the Text tool. We should be able to copy format by selecting the overall Text Layer (without highlighting string).

#2.

If user copies anything after the Text formatting (Shape Layer, Mask, Effect, etc) , the formatting is removed from clipboard memory. User then has to go back and copy original Text Layer again. Instead of destructive process, I suggest the MRU method—Most-recently used text formatting should be saved in user Prefs file. Then it can be recalled anytime in future. MRU format can be overwritten when user copies a different string.

#3.

"Paste Text Formatting Only" doesn't currently work for mixed formats. It just uses the 1st character style. Pasting a style to the whole layer of text at once would be great.

#4.

Lastly, a consideration. Text formatting is often tied to specific Paragraph settings. Should there be a way to paste Paragraph settings at the same time? 

[jenkmeister]

Thanks for testing this out! I'll add these ideas to the internal ticket and we'll see what we can do on them in the future.