# Copying Attributes With the Format Paintbrush

/text/shared/guide/paintbrush.xhp
Format Paintbrush
formatting;copying
copying;formatting
Paintbrush
MW added "Paintbrush"
Copying Formatting With the Format Paintbrush
You can use the Format Paintbrush tool to copy formatting from a text selection or from an object and apply the formatting to another text selection or object.
In Calc, the Format Paintbrush only applies to cell formatting.
- Select the text or object whose formatting you want to copy.
- On the Standard Bar, click the Format Paintbrush icon.
  The cursor changes to a paint bucket.
  If you want to apply the formatting to more than one selection, double-click the Format Paintbrush icon Icon . After you apply all the formatting, click the icon again.
- Select or click the text or object that you want to apply the formatting to.
To exclude paragraph formatting, hold down Command Ctrl when you click. To exclude character formatting, hold down Command Ctrl+Shift when you click.
The following table describes the formatting attributes that the Format Paintbrush can copy:

Type of Selection
Comment
Nothing selected, but cursor is inside a text passage
Copies the formatting of the current paragraph and the character formatting of the next character in the text flow direction.
Text is selected
Copies the formatting of the last selected character and of the paragraph that contains the character.
Frame is selected
Copies the frame attributes that are defined in Format - Frame dialog. The contents, size, position, linking, hyperlinks, and macros in the frame are not copied.
Object is selected
Copies the object formatting that is defined in the Format - Graphics or Format - Drawing Object dialogs. The contents, size, position, hyperlinks, and macros in the object are not copied.
Form control is selected
Not supported
Drawing object is selected
Copies all formatting attributes. In Impress and Draw, the text contents of the object is also copied.
Text within Calc cells is selected
Not supported
Writer table or cells are selected
Copies the formatting that is specified in Table, Text Flow, Borders, and Background tab pages in the Format - Table dialog. The paragraph and character formatting are also copied.
Calc table or cells are selected
Copies the formatting that is specified in the Format - Cells dialog as well as the formatting of the cell contents