Modify Style Dialog Box default

[John Heil]

When importing text from different sources into a Word document, it
should be easy to set the style of the imported text using the pulldown
style menu in the upper left corner of Word's menu bar. When you do
this, however, a dialog box opens that looks something like this:

---------------------------
Modify Style

Style: StyleName

Do you want

O Update this style to reflect recent changes?

O Repply the formating of the style to the selection?

[ ] Automatically update the style from now on.
---------------------------

The trouble is, the default is the first option ('Update this style to
reflect recent changes'), an option I never use.

This means that using the pull-down menu to sest the style of newly
imported text requires manually selecting 'Repply the formating of the
style to the selection' and clicking 'OK' (or pressing return).

Is there any way to set the default to the second choice: 'Repply the
formating of the style to the selection'?

Tiger 10.4.1, Word 2004 (version 11.1)

John H

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

When importing text from different sources into a Word document, it

should be easy to set the style of the imported text

How are you importing the text? because I should think the easy way would be
to use the Paste Options button.

should be easy to set the style of the imported text using the pulldown
style menu in the upper left corner of Word's menu bar.

Please don't call that Word's menu bar, as menu bar usually refers to the
Word/File/Edit, etc line. That is the Formatting Toolbar.

When you do
this, however, a dialog box opens that looks something like this:

Does Word really call this Modify Style? How annoying and confusing.

It's not going to be possible to set a default for that dialog, though I
agree with you the second is preferable. It might be possible to record the
process and apply it in one click.

However, I only get that dialog when I apply a style to text that is already
formatted in that style--what are you really doing here? because that
shouldn't be necessary all that often.

The trouble is, the default is the first option ('Update this style to
reflect recent changes'), an option I never use.

This means that using the pull-down menu to sest the style of newly
imported text requires manually selecting 'Repply the formating of the
style to the selection' and clicking 'OK' (or pressing return).

By the way, it's possible to apply styles with keyboard shortcuts.

 

[Beth Rosengard]

In addition to what Daiya said, the answer to your question is no. Many of
us have complained bitterly about this and by posting about it, you have
added your voice to the chorus . Maybe it will get changed one of these
.... years?

--
***Please always reply to the newsgroup!***

Beth Rosengard
MacOffice MVP

Mac Word FAQ: <http://word.mvps.org/MacWordNew/index.htm>
(If using Safari, hit Refresh once or twice ­ or use another browser.)
Entourage Help Page: <http://www.entourage.mvps.org>

 

[Klaus Linke]

BTW, the option to turn that dialog off and always apply the style does exist in Word2003:
Options.PromptUpdateStyle=False
(in "Options/Preferences > Edit")

Let's hope it gets added to MacWord, too... and I wouldn't mind at all if "False" became the default.

Regards,
Klaus

In addition to what Daiya said, the answer to your question is no.
Many of us have complained bitterly about this and by posting about
it, you have added your voice to the chorus . Maybe it will get
changed one of these ... years?

--
***Please always reply to the newsgroup!***

Beth Rosengard
MacOffice MVP

Mac Word FAQ: <http://word.mvps.org/MacWordNew/index.htm>
(If using Safari, hit Refresh once or twice ­ or use another browser.)
Entourage Help Page: <http://www.entourage.mvps.org>

When importing text from different sources into a Word document, it
should be easy to set the style of the imported text using the pulldown
style menu in the upper left corner of Word's menu bar. When you do
this, however, a dialog box opens that looks something like this:

---------------------------
Modify Style

Style: StyleName

Do you want

O Update this style to reflect recent changes?

O Repply the formating of the style to the selection?

[ ] Automatically update the style from now on.
---------------------------

The trouble is, the default is the first option ('Update this style to
reflect recent changes'), an option I never use.

This means that using the pull-down menu to sest the style of newly
imported text requires manually selecting 'Repply the formating of the
style to the selection' and clicking 'OK' (or pressing return).

Is there any way to set the default to the second choice: 'Repply the
formating of the style to the selection'?

Tiger 10.4.1, Word 2004 (version 11.1)

John H

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Thanks much, Klaus, I made a note to request it.

And Beth, I did say "no" somewhere in that long email.

 

[Clive Huggan]

John,

Keying Command-s when the dialogue box opens will select the second option,
allowing you to hit the Return key and continue on your merry way.

But for importing text from other sources, I prefer not to contaminate my
document with other styles, especially if they are from Windows and have the
Char Char problem. The situation you are encountering doesn't then occur. I
paste the new text in using a keyboard shortcut that performs this sequence:
Edit menu -> Paste Special -> Unformatted Text. More details are in some
notes on the way I use Word for the Mac, titled "Bend Word to Your Will",
which are available as a free download from the Word MVPs' website
(http://word.mvps.org/MacWordNew/Bend/BendWord.htm) -- look up page 167 or
do a Find command for "Paste plain text".

Cheers,

Clive Huggan
Canberra, Australia
(My time zone is at least 7 hours different from the US and Europe, so my
follow-on responses to those regions can be delayed)
============================================================

 

[Clive Huggan]

PS: I forgot to mention that the "Paste Special, unformatted text" procedure
pastes the text in new paragraphs that have the characteristics of the
paragraph mark at the insertion point in your document. So if that paragraph
mark has Normal style, the new (pasted) paragraphs will all be Normal. Ditto
Body Text etc. This means that your new text arrives without any "baggage".

Clive H.
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