Text from Google Doc loses all formatting, paste without formatting is NOT greyed out

[cgosch]

I've tried paste and paste without formatting, everything gets stripped and I used to do this all of the time. I have changed preferences so that the without formatting is an option and then tried both regular paste and without formatting - doesn't work. The copy I paste just takes on whatever font/size/color that the box is set at, even if it is a headline font and I'm pasting body copy. Help!

Macbook Pro running Big Sur 11.4 on Creative Suite

[Barb Binder · Accepted solution]

Hi @cgosch:

In Google Docs, choose File > Download > Microsoft Word (.docx) to export the content and then File > Place to import it into your InDesign layout. InDesign will retain any paragraph styles assigned to the google doc along with the inline formatting (i.e., bold and italic words).

~Barb

[BobLevine]

I would take that one step further and open it in Word first. Clean it up there and then place it in InDesign.

I've seen some pretty wonky results placing DOCX files created by Google Docs.

I'd also recommend that the OP take a look at this: DocsFlow » Em Software

[Diane Burns]

To add just a bit to Barb's reply, File > Place is generally better to use than Copy/Paste, with almost any text. Copy/Paste uses the System's Clipboard, which can be pretty "dumb." Also, remember with File > Place, you can check the "Import Options" dialog and get lots of controls for exactly how your text imports.