How to use Spike to copy and paste text blocks in Word

Do you know sharp objects people often use to pin papers in, after they are done to store them? These items are common in restaurants. Once you have paid your bill, the receiver will pin it to this sharps, along with other bills.

Microsoft Word has a similar but obscure feature, called Spike. With Spike, instead of storing pieces of paper, you can store blocks of text. Unlike the Windows clipboard, these text blocks remain on Spike until you want to paste them into another location, in the current document or into a new Word document, or any existing document. other. The Clipboard of Windows only stores one copied item at a time, unless you use third-party tools to extend the capabilities of this clipboard.

Spike is like the method of copying and pasting multiple blocks of marked text previously discussed. But you don't have to select all the individual text blocks and copy them all at once, using Spike.

Add content to Spike

You can copy and paste any type of content - like text, tables and images - into Spike. To add content to the Spike, select that content and press Ctrl + F3 .

This will cut the content you selected and paste it into Spike. But don't panic. If you don't want to cut the content from the original position in the document, press Ctrl + Z to undo the cut. The content returns to its original position and its copy remains in Spike.

Select another block of text and press Ctrl + F3 again to add it to Spike. You can do this as many times as you like.

Paste the content saved in Spike with a Shortcut or the word 'Spike' to a new document

Now, we will learn how to paste content saved in Spike into a new document. You can also paste the content into another location in the same document.

Click the File tab. Then, click New , then select Blank document in the New section.

To paste the text blocks you have saved in the Spike, press Ctrl + Shift + F3 .

This step will make the text blocks disappear in Spike and they are not available to paste in subsequent sessions. But if you want to paste the content saved in Spike into multiple locations or you don't want to lose what you've copied, you can paste the text blocks and keep them in Spike at the same time.

Type spike and press Enter .

When you type spike , you will see the first part of each text block in a pop-up window, before you press Enter .

Word pastes all information from Spike (not just the last block of text you add) into your document at the cursor. Any format, such as bold fonts, italics or different formats, remains the same as in the original text.

Paste the content saved in Spike using the Ribbon

You can also paste the saved content in Spike into your document using the command on the ribbon.

Click the Insert tab. Then, click the Quick Parts button in the Text section and hover over Auto Text .

If your Word window is too small, you may not see the Text label on the Quick Parts button. But you can just click on the icon of this button as shown below.

Word displays the Spike content on the submenu. Click Spike on the submenu to paste its content into your document.

Paste saved content in Spike using the Quick Parts button also saves the content in Spike.

Delete content saved in Spike to reuse it

If you want to copy text blocks and paste them into multiple locations, it is helpful to enter " spike " or use the ribbon to paste Spike's content.

But if you know you won't be able to paste the content saved in Spike anywhere else, you can use Ctrl + F3 to paste these content in many places. That way, Spike will be empty and ready for the next use.

See more:

1. Copy and move text in MS Word with F2 key
2. Tips for copying fast and efficient paragraph formatting in Word
3. How to use the Insert key to insert copied text in Word?