Merging docs in MS Word

[Mac1337]

I frequently need to merge several reports to make one final report. Word is really not equipped to do this it seems. I have done cut and paste but the second document keeps its old formatting, which I do not want. Same for Insert File.

[TheTominator]

By using an intermediary program like TextEdit (in plain text mode), TextWrangler, or BBEdit, you can strip the formatting. Paste the material into one of these plain text editors first. Then copy the material in this text editor and paste that into the final destination.

Some programs (maybe your version of Microsoft Word is among them) offer a "Paste Special", "Paste Unformatted", or "Paste and Match Style" alternative. Sometimes this is available only when you hold down the Option key when looking in the Edit menu. Using this feature can save you needing an intermediate program to strip the formatting.

[MacManMaz]

IN MS word, page, paragraph, and header/footer formatting is carried in a hidden paragraph mark at the very end of each section. Click the "show paragraph marks" button on the tool bar. In normal view, select the last paragraph mark in the old origional document that carries the formatting that you want and copy it. Now select the last paragraph mark in the newly pasted section and paste... voila!

Of course, MS could have easily made a "paste and match formatting" option that does the same thing, but they are too busy making things difficult to be bothered.