While looking at online applications for job listings, there are a few that - in lieu of a upload form for the cover letter - simply have a text area in which to paste the letter. As most cover letter how-to's discuss proper formatting of the letter, this seems to just throw all of that out the window.
I don't think just including the cover letter with the resume (and then stating such on the text area) would be looked upon too kindly (based on other answers here about online applications).
But if I have to paste my letter into the text area, do the general formatting rules change? Should I skip the contact information (there are other fields for that), and would the overall length change any?