Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Processing Information Pasted from a PDF File.

Processing Information Pasted from a PDF File

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated July 24, 2021)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003


Zach is constantly pasting quotes from PDF files into the body of his Word documents. He'd like to have a macro specifically for pasting from PDF that pastes without any formatting and automatically removes the paragraph breaks that are at the end of each line of the pasted text.

It is relatively easy to work with text in this manner in a macro. All you need to do is move the information from the Clipboard to a string variable. Once it is in the variable, there is no longer any formatting associated with the text and you can search for and replace the paragraph breaks. The following macro performs both steps:

Sub PastePDFClean()
    Dim MyData As DataObject
    Dim sTextIn As String
    Dim x As Integer
    Dim y As Integer

    Set MyData = New DataObject
    MyData.GetFromClipboard
    sTextIn = MyData.GetText

    x = InStr(sTextIn, vbCr)
    y = 1
    While x > 0
        sTextIn = Left(sTextIn, x - 1) & Mid(sTextIn, x + 1)
        y = x + 1
        x = InStr(y, sTextIn, vbCr)
    Wend

    Selection.TypeText sTextIn
    Set MyData = Nothing
End Sub

Remember; the macro works on whatever is in the Clipboard. So, in order to run the macro properly on a PDF selection, you need to copy the selection to the Clipboard and switch to your Word document before you run the macro.

Note:

If you would like to know how to use the macros described on this page (or on any other page on the WordTips sites), I've prepared a special page that includes helpful information. Click here to open that special page in a new browser tab.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (583) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Processing Information Pasted from a PDF File.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Easily Backing Up AutoText Entries

Many people use AutoText to enhance their use of Word. If you've invested significant time in customizing AutoText to ...

Discover More

The Case of the Disappearing MRU File List

If the MRU list has disappeared, follow this tip to reactivate the list in Word.

Discover More

Replacing Dashes with Periods

Replacing one character in a text value with another character is easy. All you need to do is use the SUBSTITUTE ...

Discover More

Comprehensive VBA Guide Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the language used for writing macros in all Office programs. This complete guide shows both professionals and novices how to master VBA in order to customize the entire Office suite for their needs. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2010 today!

More WordTips (menu)

Converting PDF to Word Documents

One way that documents are commonly shared with others is in the form of a PDF file. Getting information from a PDF file ...

Discover More

Accessing Excel through a PDF File

Word and PDF files go together like peanut butter and jelly. (How's that for a metaphor?) If you create PDF files from ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 2 + 2?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.

Videos
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.