How can I copy & paste formatting?

[rick_eisner]

I have two columns. I need to select the formatting in the first column, and paste it into the second column (without losing all the text, of course).

Can anyone help?

Rick

[jane-e]

There are two ways:

• One is to use the eyedropper tool to copy formatting and paste it to amother paragraph.
• The second is to create styles for the paragraphs in column 1 and apply them to the text in column 2. Be sure to clear any overrides (local formatting).

[rick_eisner]

These sound so easy! But in practice, they both evade me... Can you suggest where I might learn how to use them, either or both?

[tromboniator]

I don't see this information presented anywhere: look under Window menu > Type > for the Paragraph Styles and Character Styles panels. It helps to be able to look at them in order to learn how to use them! But do look at the material linked in post 3.

Peter

[q3player]

Example:

Two text blocks, left one is formatted as you like it. Right one needs to be formatted.

Select right text block, then select Eyedropper.

When you hover over the left text block with your Eyedropper a little "T" will appear. One click and there you go.

[rick_eisner · Accepted solution]

I found my answer!! And it was not where I looked.

My problem was that one column was not set to the same tabs as the other. And the answer was to use Window>Type>Tabs (Shift-Cmd-T).

Apologies to all for not asking the right questions.

[mjbelt]

Create a "Paragraph Style" based on the first column of text,

Apply new "Paragraph Style" to the second column.

Link to how:

Character and paragraph styles in Illustrator