OK, so I'm working to rebrand some existing docs with an updated template. When doing this, I often run across paragraphs with lots of weird formatting--I like to use the Clear All option, then apply updated formatting on a clean slate.

But for some reason, these docs don't have the Clear all option. (see attachments for screenshots).

The Clear all option is present in new documents, as well as others. So the problem is restricted to these docs. I just need to know how to restore the option w/o completely redoing these docs.

thanks

Attached Images

clear all.png (3.1 KB, 22 views)

To remove formatting, you can apply the Normal style to selected paragraphs. Make use of the built-in shortcut Ctrl+Shift+N to apply Normal.

Formatting which is not stored in the underlying paragraph style can be removed with keyboard shortcuts. More specifically, direct font formatting can be removed from the selection with Ctrl+SpaceBar, and direct paragraph formatting can be removed with Ctrl+Q.

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Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Yes, those are workarounds. But if at all possible, I'd prefer to restore the Clear All option, if for no other reason that it bothers me when frequently used commands disappear.

Note that the Clear All option does exactly the same: it applies Normal style and clears direct formatting.

That said, I do understand that you are wondering why the Clear All option isn't working. For that I have no explanation.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

If you are going to use Office, get used to it. Commands get renamed, moved and removed. Yes, it is frustrating.

Do you have the Clear All button in the font group of the Home tab?

Can you attach a document where this happens?


Is it formatted as a .doc document/ .docx document?

I seem to remember an option which could show/hide this in the Styles Pane. It seems to have disappeared from the GUI in the most recent versions of Word.

There is a reference to such a option in http://www.wordarticles.com/Articles...StylesPane.php which states I was unable to find the VBA command that is alluded to here so I can only suggest that someone go back and test earlier versions of Word to see if the option exists somewhere there.

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Andrew Lockton
Chrysalis Design, Melbourne Australia

I went exploring the xml components of a docx file and discovered the relevant setting in near the top of the settings.xml file.
w:clearFormatting="0" = don't show the Clear All option
w:clearFormatting="1" = show the Clear All option

So if you are comfortable editing xml files you could have a go at changing this setting on a copy of your affected document.

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Andrew Lockton
Chrysalis Design, Melbourne Australia

Here you go.

FWIW, the doc was created by someone who didn't have a lot of advanced Word knowledge. In other words, I have no idea how she did this. And she doesn't work here anymore, so I can't really ask her.

Attached Files

test.docx (134.4 KB, 16 views)

Here is your test document back, now showing Clear All.
I followed the suggestion by Andrew and modified the settings XML.

Attached Files

test.docx (133.5 KB, 9 views)

Many thanks!

You are welcome.

For what it is worth, copying the content of the original document, minus the final paragraph mark, and pasting into a new, blank document also seem to restore the Clear All command.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Much easier!