copy and paste from 2 columned layout ( planning document ) into Word

[gingeroots]

Is it possible to copy and retain either the 2 columns or to paste it so that it appears as a normal block of text ?

It comes out with what I think is double spacing between most of the words .

Any help gratefully received .

anyone ?

What version of word? When you paste does a little icon appear next to the pasted text? It should give you some options such as "keep original formatting" and "match destination formatting" try the original option

Um ...Microsoft Word 2013 . Is that a version ?

Sometimes ( not always ) I get a choice of 3 versions to paste . But clicking on retain orginal format ,or merge formatting makes no difference .

Could it be because I'm copying from a PDF document ?

Could be that if you don't have PDF editor version.

Can you copy it into Wordpad? Does it do the same there? (Only as Wordpad has less fancy formatting.)

Or try copying it into a pre-made table in Word - then copying the text out again once it is in there?

Can you select the columns separately in the PDF file?

Do you need it editable in word or could you just paste it as, say, a screen shot from the PDF?

Make sure you SAVE the original, and the edited versions as you go along, so you can get back to a good version, if things go wrong.

Yes, use Wordpad, or as plain text.

Good luck!

. . . and the edited versions under different name, I meant to say.

So sorry not to have responded .Not ignoring all your helpful comments - haven't tried them yet .

Have googled how to do a screenshot but not tried yet ,

Not sure if I have Wordpad on Windows 8 ,it was on earlier system but not seen it on this . Will look.

It's not just the columns it won't retain ,it puts double spacing between the words .

I've copied from other docs ok ,still thinking it's maybe something to do with PDF .

'Screenshot' - don't you have a key on the keyboard labelled 'Print Screen'? Just press that, then 'save' the result. But obviously you won't get any editing or formatting from that, as it is only a graphic.

Do you really mean double spacing between WORDS, or between lines of text? It is possible when it was originally typed that 'Return' was pressed at the end of lines, rather than leaving the computer to 'wrap round' text automatically.

If you CAN get into it, to edit it, you can remove excess 'Return' characters, but it can be a fiddly job as text may shuffle up to fill the gaps.

Cut and paste from PDF.

Then still highlighted in word, click "clear formatting"

Then insert table, select space as the rule for a new column/row and then ok

It should reformat to roughly the same kind of document that you started with. You could pretty it up with borders, column widths etc.

In Word, you can set the page layout so it has two columns. Try C&P into a two-column formatted page.

With the double spacing between lines, it is a formatting of the paragraph. Highlight, right-click, go to paragraph and dial down the spacing between lines.

If it is not retaining the two columns, once you have changed the para formatting, highlight again and put into two columns using the ribbon tools.