The _CLIPBOARD$ function returns the current operating system’s clipboard contents as a STRING.
Syntax
result$ = _CLIPBOARD$
Description
- Text returned can contain the entire contents of a copied file or web page or text from a previous _CLIPBOARD$ (statement) statement.
- The string returned can also contain formatting like CRLF (CHR$(13) + CHR$(10)) end of line characters.
- The clipboard can be used to copy, paste and communicate between running programs.
Example(s)
Passing a string value between two running programs no matter where they are located.
Program1:
PRINT "Start Program2 to read your text entries! Empty entry quits!"
_CLIPBOARD$ = "Entry program started!" 'set clipboard initially
DO
LINE INPUT "Enter some text to send to other program: ", text$
IF text$ = "" THEN EXIT DO
_CLIPBOARD$ = text$
LOOP
SYSTEM
Program2:
PRINT "Enter text in Program1 and this program will read it. Esc key quits!"
DO: _LIMIT 100
text$ = _CLIPBOARD$ 'function returns clipboard contents
IF LEN(text$) THEN
PRINT text$
_CLIPBOARD$ = "" 'clear clipboard after a read
END IF
LOOP UNTIL INKEY$ = CHR$(27)
END
Explanation: Compile and run both programs at once to see the interaction. You could also run them on different paths.
A minimized program that pops up when Ctrl + Shift is entered anytime in Windows and adds clipboard text to be Pasted:
'"ClippyBoard" program uses GetKeyState Win API to monitor a specific key combination.
'This demo will maximize the window and focus on program when Shift+A is pressed.
DECLARE DYNAMIC LIBRARY "user32"
FUNCTION FindWindowA%& (BYVAL ClassName AS _OFFSET, WindowName$) 'find process handle by title
FUNCTION GetKeyState% (BYVAL nVirtKey AS LONG) 'Windows virtual key presses
FUNCTION ShowWindow& (BYVAL hwnd AS _OFFSET, BYVAL nCmdShow AS LONG) 'maximize process
FUNCTION GetForegroundWindow%& 'find currently focused process handle
FUNCTION SetForegroundWindow& (BYVAL hwnd AS _OFFSET) 'set foreground window process(focus)
END DECLARE
title$ = "Clippy Clipboard (Ctrl+Shift)" 'title of program window
_TITLE title$ 'set program title
hwnd%& = FindWindowA(0, title$ + CHR$(0)) 'find this program's process handle
SCREEN 13
_SCREENMOVE _MIDDLE
COLOR 10: PRINT
PRINT " Press Ctrl+Shift to see clipboard menu."
_DELAY 4
x& = ShowWindow&(hwnd%&, 2) 'minimize
DO: _LIMIT 30 'save CPU usage while waiting for key press
IF GetKeyState(16) < 0 AND GetKeyState(17) < 0 THEN '<==== Shift+A
FGwin%& = GetForegroundWindow%& 'get current process in focus
y& = ShowWindow&(hwnd%&, 1) 'maximize minimized program
IF FGwin%& <> hwnd%& THEN z& = SetForegroundWindow&(hwnd%&) 'set focus when necessary
_DELAY 1
GetKey
x& = ShowWindow&(hwnd%&, 2) 'minimize after letter key entry
COLOR 10: PRINT
PRINT " Press Ctrl+Shift to see clipboard menu."
END IF
LOOP
SUB GetKey
CLS
COLOR 12: PRINT: PRINT _CLIPBOARD$
DO: LOOP UNTIL INKEY$ = ""
_DELAY 1
CLS
COLOR 11: PRINT "Select a letter clipboard option:"
PRINT
PRINT "A = Address"
PRINT "C = Cell phone"
PRINT "E = Email"
PRINT "F = First Name"
PRINT "H = Home phone"
PRINT "L = Last Name"
PRINT "N = Name"
PRINT "M = MAC address"
PRINT "P = Password"
PRINT "W = Work name"
PRINT "X = QUIT!"
PRINT "Z = Zip code"
COLOR 14: PRINT
PRINT "Another letter will skip or X = EXIT!"
K$ = UCASE$(INPUT$(1))
SELECT CASE K$ 'The following text should be your personal user info:
CASE "A": _CLIPBOARD$ = "my address"
CASE "C": _CLIPBOARD$ = "cell number"
CASE "E": _CLIPBOARD$ = "myemail"
CASE "F": _CLIPBOARD$ = "formal name"
CASE "H": _CLIPBOARD$ = "home number"
CASE "L": _CLIPBOARD$ = "lastname"
CASE "M": _CLIPBOARD$ = "modempassword"
CASE "N": _CLIPBOARD$ = "name"
CASE "P": _CLIPBOARD$ = "password"
CASE "X": END
CASE "Z": _CLIPBOARD$ = "zipcode"
END SELECT
CLS
PRINT
PRINT
COLOR 14: PRINT _CLIPBOARD$
BEEP
_DELAY 2
END SUB
Explanation: The program will run minimized until Ctrl + Shift is entered and will pop up to ask for a letter choice that contains the text you want in the clipboard. More letter choices can be added. Text can be pasted into a web page or entry box and the program will minimize until it is needed later. The program uses very little resources!