Saving Portions of Files

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated November 11, 2017)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003


Some word processing programs contain an option that allows you to save a selected portion of a document to a new document automatically. Word does not, unfortunately, allow you to do this. You can, however, use a couple of workarounds. The first quick workaround is as follows:

  1. Highlight the text you want to save to a new file.
  2. Copy it to the Clipboard by pressing Ctrl+C.
  3. Click on the New button on the toolbar. This opens a new Word document.
  4. Press Ctrl+V. This pastes the text into the new document

At this point you can do anything with the new document you desire. The following method of dealing with this problem is also a unique way to approach the situation:

  1. Highlight the text you want to save to a new file.
  2. Copy it to the Clipboard by pressing Ctrl+C.
  3. Minimize Word.
  4. Right-click on the desktop. This displays a Context menu.
  5. Choose Paste from the Context menu. This causes a scrap to appear on the desktop.
  6. Double-click on the desktop scrap. Word opens a new document containing the scrap.

At this point you can save the new document under any name you want.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1177) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

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

Multiple Document Directories for Word

Word 97 users would follow these steps to specify multiple directories for documents.

Discover More

Setting Cell Width and Height Using the Keyboard

Hate to take your hands off the keyboard? Here are a couple of ways you can reject the mouse and still adjust the height ...

Discover More

Changing the Default 'Print What' Setting

By default, Word automatically changes the "Print What" setting in the Print dialog box to reflect what it thinks should ...

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)

Embedding TrueType Fonts by Default

If you use TrueType fonts frequently, you might want to set Word to embed those fonts by default. Here's how to do it.

Discover More

Can't Get Rid of Unwanted Recovery File

Sometimes Word can get confused, and it may think that it needs to recover files that you are sure no longer exist. If ...

Discover More

Opening a Word Document when Starting the Computer

Some people use their computers for little else, other than to work on Word documents. If that is the case with you, then ...

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 4 - 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.