Paste content from one InDesign table to another, without formatting?

[blackberryd1991]

So, I need to copy text content from one InDesign table and paste into another table with different text formatting [different font, colour, size etc]. The problem I've got is if I highlight the original table and copy, InDesign doesn't allow Paste without Formatting.

If I copy text contained WITHIN a cell in the InDesign table, and paste into a separate table, Paste without Formatting works fine.

I'm guessing the issue is because when I highlight the entire original table, and copy, I'm not only copying the text formatting but the table formatting too?

Anyway, is there a way around this...I really don't want to have to copy and paste each bit of text separately! Would it be I just need to paste in the content with the original formatting and then apply my new Styles to it?

[SJRiegel · Accepted solution]

My workaround is to convert the table you want to copy from to text. Then you will be able to copy the needed lines, highlight the rows they go into, and Paste without formatting will work.

[blackberryd1991]

Ah yes, that appears to work!

I would of imagined the convert table text would of pasted into one cell, as appose to separate cells...but it doesn't!

Sweet, thank you 🙂

[FRIdNGE]

Hi Susan,

Without wanting to be unpleasant [you know me and you know I'm so cool!  😉 ], and even if it is a workaround, I am not really convinced!

[Time to eat; explanations later!]

(^/)  The Jedi

[SJRiegel]

I use this trick often - it gets the job done. 

[FRIdNGE]

These 2 scripts too! …

Associating the 2 Scripts to 2 keyboard shortcuts, as Ctrl-C, for "copying" and Ctrl-V, for "pasting" (even if I absolutely don't use copy-paste [funny!] in the scripts), the game can begin!

(^/)

[blackberryd1991]

Hi FRIdNGE,

Very nice. Where might these scripts be available, if you don't mind me asking?!

[karen juditha97891139]

This looks exactly like what I need right now! Where can I get those scripts? Thank you!

[Laubender]

Hi blackberryd1991,

my workaround is:

[1] Select the table cells and copy them to the clipboard.

Switch to Excel.

[2] Paste to a single cell selected in a new Excel spreadsheet.

[3] Copy the selected cells to the clipboard.

Switch to InDesign.

[4] Select a single table cell in InDesign

[5] Paste the contents of the clipboard.

Just tested this successfully with my German InDesign 2021 and old Excel from Office 2010 on Windows 10.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[blackberryd1991]

Hi,

I did give that a go, but I'm finding if my cell [in InDesign] conatins more than one word, when I paste into Excel is puts the words into seperate cells ;(

[Michelle5E4C]

It's likely because your data contains hard/carriage returns. My workaround is as follows:

• In Excel after pasting your the InDesign data, do a find and replace Ctrl+F 
• Find all returns (Type Ctrl+J in the find box, you won't see a visible character but you can see the cursor move one space)
• In the replace field, type the most unlikely character to be in any of your data. For me that's the "\" character.
• Replace all
• Now go back and copy and paste the excel data into your Indesign file
• Once back in InDesign, select the entire table and Find and Replace all "\" with a forced line break "^n"
• All your carriage returns should go back in their proper place.

[Laubender]

Hi blackberryd1991,

did some more tests. Switching between InDesign and Excel is working as expected as long as a table cell does not contain more than one paragraphs or a tab special character. And of course other special characters as auto page number, footnote or endnote will not be transferred as well. Also not anchored objects.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )