WD2002: How to Use the Paste Options Button to Paste Data into a Table (284842)

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The Paste Options button appears as a square with a picture of a clipboard. There is an arrow on the right side.

The Paste Options button enables you to decide whether you want to paste your data as you originally copied it, or change the style so that it fits the style of the document into which you are pasting the data, or apply specific characteristics to the data, based on the content.

To paste data into a table, follow the steps in the following example:

1. Copy a list, and then paste it into a Word document.
   
   The Paste Options button appears.
2. Click the Paste Options button, and then click the option that you want for your pasted information.

Copying and Pasting Tables in Word

When you are copying and pasting a table in Word, you can do the following with the Paste Options button:

• Paste a single table cell as text.
• Make sure tables are not accidentally nested.
• Merge pasted tables with existing tables and preserving alignment and formatting.

When you paste a table in Word, the default Paste Options button offers several options. These options are explained in the following list.

• Keep Source Formatting
  
  This maintains the table formatting. When you are pasting data to a new document, the default is Keep Source Formatting.
• Insert as Nested Table
  
  If your cursor is in an existing table when pasting, the Paste Option default is Insert as Nested Table.
• Merge with Existing Table
  
  If your cursor is below or above an existing table when you are pasting data, the default is Merge with Existing Table.
• Match Destination Formatting
  
  If you are pasting a single cell, the formatting is cleared and the destination formatting is applied.
  
  If you are pasting multiple cells, the formatting is cleared and the default table style is applied.
• Keep Text Only
  
  This pastes the data as unformatted text (tab-delimited text).
• Keep Original Table Formatting
  
  This appends the table but keeps the formatting of the original table. This option is only available if there is already a table below or above the insertion point.
• Insert as Nested Table
  
  This pastes the table as a nested table in the existing table.
• Merge With Existing Table
  
  This merges the pasted table with the existing table in the document and changes the table formatting to match the destination. This option is only available if there is already a table below or above the insertion point. (See the note at the end of this list.)
• Insert as New Rows
  
  This pastes the table as new rows on the existing table.Apply Style Formatting
  
  The Styles and Formatting task pane is displayed so that you can apply additional formatting.

NOTE: When the insertion point is above or below a table, there is a new command on the Edit menu; this is the Paste by Appending Table command. The Paste by Appending Table command forces the copied table to be added to the destination table when pasted into the document.

When the insertion point is inside of a table, the default behavior of the Paste command on the menu Edit menu is Paste as Nested Table. This command forces the pasted table to be nested into the existing table.