PowerPoint 2007 - Slide Master (Copy/Paste) Issue

Hello Glenn -

Regarding your "paste" format issue - common but easy to solve.

The cause is the Office default setting for the PASTE function. However, there are other PASTE options if you invoke the correct function.

I do this by using a custom Quick Access Toolbar in all Office programs. There I add the custom buttons I use or need the most or those that offer greater functionality. The PASTE function is one of those (as is the FIND function). As an example of a custom toolbar, here is my Word 2010 Quick Access Toolbar. Note I place it below the ribbon then collapse the ribbon.

My Word 2010 Quick Access Toolbar




To use the expanded PASTE functionality, copy the desired text from your source (PPT, text, HTML, whatever), select the insertion point in the target PowerPoint slide, then click the drop down arrow on the PASTE button. Scroll down and select Unformatted Text, then click the OK button. The clipboard content is pasted using the target location formatting.

Here are the steps when using PowerPoint 2007 (note that 2010 has an additional PASTE function in the Toolbar Commands list).


1. Open PowerPoint and click the Office orb (upper left corner).
2. In the dialog window that opens, click the PowerPoint Options button (near the button center).


3. The PowerPoint Options window opens.
4. Click on Customize in the left side column.


5. Click the drop down arrow next to Choose commands from then click on All Commands in the drop list.


6. Scroll down the command list and then select (click on) the second Paste command - it has a right arrow at the right side.



7. Click the Add >> button between the two columns. The Paste button is added to your Customize Quick Access Toolbar. Optionally, select (check) Show Quick Access Toolbar below the Ribbon.



8. Click the OK button.

The custom Quick Access Toolbar appears below your ribbon (here I collapsed the ribbon).




Using the Paste Button

Here I have opened a PowerPoint slide that has red text. I have selected and copied (CTRL-C) the text to paste into two locations of a new presentation slide.

Source text (red)



Target locations for copied source text (bold black and light gray)


Default PASTE behavior (CTRL-V) in PowerPoint inserts red text from the source.


Your desired behavior is to paste the source text and have it inherit the target slide formatting. To do this:
1. Copy (CRTL-C) the text from the source.
2. Select the paste location in the target slide.
3. Click the down arrow next to the PASTE button on your Quick Access Toolbar, then select Paste Special... in the drop list.



4. The Paste Special dialog window opens.


5. Scroll down the As: list then select (click on) Unformatted Text.
6. Click the OK button
7. The copied (clipboard) text is pasted with the desired target slide formatting.


Done!

Regards
GEWB