PSA: How to create custom keyboard shortcut for "Paste Unformatted Text" in Outlook on Windows

Status
Not open for further replies.

jonascbaoth

Member
Outlook version
Outlook 365 64 bit
Email Account
Exchange Server
This was bugging me and there were not many good directions online but I found part of a thread about this from a few years ago on this forum and thought I would update it (can't post there since it's closed), and for posterity.

Use Case
I write a lot of emails in Outlook and frequently am copying/pasting info from other places, but want to paste unformatted so that the text doesn't have wonky formatting. Even if I change the paste option to default to "unformatted text" in Outlook settings, for whatever reason (thanks Microsoft), Outlook rarely if ever actually respects that. And because Outlook also lacks the ability to set custom keyboard shortcuts for specific commands like Word (again, thanks Microsoft), there's no way to set a custom shortcut for built-in "paste unformatted text" in Outlook. So here's a workaround:

Step 1: Enable Developer mode in Outlook. (File > Options > Customize Ribbon > check the "Developer" box)
Step 2: Compose a new message in Outlook, then go to the Developer tab > click "Macros" > then click "Macros" again. A dialog box will pop up. Type a name (it doesn't matter what) and then click "Create." A new window will open.
Step 3: In the new window, copy and paste the following code:

Sub Paste_Special_Unformatted()

Dim objDoc As Word.Document
Dim objSel As Word.Selection
On Error Resume Next

' get a Word.Selection from the open Outlook item

Set objDoc = Application.ActiveInspector.WordEditor
Set objSel = objDoc.Windows(1).Selection

' now do what you want with the Selection

objSel.PasteSpecial Link:=False, DataType:=wdPasteText
Set objDoc = Nothing
Set objSel = Nothing

End Sub

Step 4: Test it by clicking the little "play" (RUN) button in the code creation window. If you have the compose draft window open in the background, clicking "Run" should paste whatever you have copied to your clipboard into your compose window (which will be the code you just pasted if you previously copied it to the clipboard). That confirms it works.

Step 5: In the Compose window, click the Quick Access Toolbar right underneath the ribbon and click "Customize the Ribbon." Click "Quick Access Toolbar" on the left side. in the dropdown menu, choose "Macros." Find your Macro and add it to the right side box. I suggest moving it to the very top of that list.

This adds the macro to your Quick Access Toolbar so you can click it easily. You can also press "Alt+1" when composing a message and it'll trigger the first item in your QAT (which is the macro you created if you placed it where I said to). But we're not done.

Step 6: Install Microsoft PowerToys. If you have a work computer, you may not be able to do this unfortunately, but depending on your IT policy, they may allow this software to be installed as it is official first-party Microsoft software. Explain that it will greatly increase your efficiency and productivity workflow.

Step 7: Open PowerToys. Go to Keyboard Manager. Go to Shortcuts. Click "Remap a Shortcut." Under "Physical shortcut" click "Type" and then type whatever shortcut you'd like to use to paste unformatted text in Outlook. Under "Mapped to" click "Type" and then type "Alt 1". Then in the "Target app" box type "outlook". Then click OK at the top. Close PowerToys.

You should now be able to paste unformatted text into any Outlook email draft using your preferred tool! Just make sure you don't move the macro you created from your #1 Quick Access Toolbar, or that will break. You can of course move it elsewhere in the QAT, but be sure to map the key accordingly (if it's the 2nd item in the QAT instead of the first, the shortcut would be Alt+2).

Happy Outlooking!
 
I use a utility - PureText - that works in all apps. Ctrl+Shift+V pastes plain text. Although lately, it doesn't paste in Outlook and word (office 365 subscription) - I need to Ctrl+Shift+V to convert to plain text then Ctrl+V to paste it.

Oh... fixed that - I opened it to get the link to the app - PureText - and while there, I checked the settings and experimental was on. I don't use the windows key in the shortcut, and switched to default. Now paste works in Outlook.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
S Create Outlook Task from Template and append Body with Email Body Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 4
B Modify VBA to create a RULE to block multiple messages Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 0
J Want to create a button on the nav bar (module add-in) to run code Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 2
B How to create a button that sorts and selects the most recent message with ONE click Using Outlook 2
W Create a Quick Step or VBA to SAVE AS PDF in G:|Data|Client File Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 1
Wotme create email only data file Using Outlook 1
S Outlook 365 Help me create a Macro to make some received emails into tasks? Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 1
J How to create a drop down user defined field that will appear on an inbox view Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 8
Commodore Any way to create "from-only" account on Outlook 2021? Using Outlook 1
L Capture email addresses and create a comma separated list Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 5
N Can't create NEW GROUP and add/remove a member from existing Group in Outlook Using Outlook 1
NVDon Create new Move To Folder list Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 0
C Create Meeting With Custom Form Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 2
D Create advanced search (email) via VBA with LONG QUERY (>1024 char) Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 2
G Create ordinal numbers for birthday Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 2
O Outlook 365 - How to create / copy a new contact from an existing one? Using Outlook 5
D Create new email from the received Email Body with attachment Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 10
A How to create fixed signatures for aliases that process through GMAIL? Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 0
P Can I create a Rule that sends me an email when I get a Task? Using Outlook 2
M How create a Rule to filter sender's email with more that one @ sign Using Outlook 1
B Can I create a local PST file for SPAM on a drive that is usually disconnected? Using Outlook 3
Chiba Create an appointment for all the members Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 1
S Create a clickable custom column field Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 0
O Create a custom contact form - questions before messing things up... Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 4
L automaticaly create a teams meeting with a sync Using Outlook 0
D Can Exchange Admin Center create a pst for users email/contacts/calendar? Exchange Server Administration 0
S Create A Search Folder That Looks For Message Class? Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 0
F How to create phone number as links in notes of Contacts Using Outlook 2
Nessa Can't create new appointment Using Outlook 1
A Create date folder and move messages daily Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 1
C Create new Message with shared contacts & BCC'ing recipients Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 0
O Multiple email accounts - hesitate to create a new profile Using Outlook 3
G Can't create Folder Groups in Outlook 2013 Using Outlook 0
N Outlook rules don't create a copy for bcc'ed emails Using Outlook 3
F Delete/create/reset Exchange mailbox on Outlook.com Using Outlook.com accounts in Outlook 3
R Can not create folder to store specific emails in in Outlook for Mac Using Outlook 1
W Create Search Folder excluding Specific Email Addresses Using Outlook 5
A Outlook macro to create search folder with mail categories as criteria Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 3
K VBA BeforeItemMove event create rule to always move to its folder. Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 4
JackBlack What tools do you use to create the signature for email? Using Outlook 3
Rupert Dragwater How to create a new email with @outlook.com Using Outlook.com accounts in Outlook 32
F Should a new email account also create new contacts Using Outlook 2
D create an html table in outlook custom form 2010 using vba in MsAccess Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 7
R Outlook add-in to create new contact from an email. Using Outlook 0
Tanja Östrand Outlook 2016 - Create Macro button to add text in Subject Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 1
Q Script to create a pst file for Archiving Using Outlook 1
Jennifer Murphy Can I create a Rule with Or'd conditions? Using Outlook 1
D Outlook macros to create meeting on shared calendar Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 10
G How do I create a custom pick list in VB for an outlook automated email? Outlook VBA and Custom Forms 1
L Create Custom Form Using Outlook 0

Similar threads

Back
Top