Executing Commands with Global Hotkeys
Each Permanent Clip can be used to execute copy functions, paste functions, run Windows commands, simulated keystrokes, or even used to display ArsClip's own windows. Since each Permanent Clip can be activated using an optional global hotkey, they can function as commands that can be directly executed by a keystroke.
NOTE: In the Edit Permanent Clip window, there is a section under Commands called Examples. These example shows the range of commands that can be performed -- from searching Google with the clipboard to pasting multiple Popup Clips.
Script-Like Abilities
By default, a Permanent Clip is used to simply paste a clip. When the Keystrokes and Commands variables are enabled in the Edit Permanent Clip window, a Permanent Clip can also contain keystrokes to simulate and commands to execute.
Keystrokes
ArsClip directly supports simulated keystrokes that are often used in text editing and form filling. These keystrokes includes the basic navigation keys and editing keys. For other keystroke combinations, a 'Custom Key Combination' menu item is used. The 'Example Key Combination' menu items shows examples of how to perform some basic text editing tasks, like highlighting and word deleting.
Insert Commands
The first group of command variables are inserts. These are used to insert dynamic text into a clip, so the clip effectively becomes a template. The 3 supported inserts are the date, a clip from the popup, or the clipboard. For example, the last 3 clips can be pasted with a Permanent Clip using the following:
[POPUPITEM=0][POPUPITEM=1][POPUPITEM=2]
To turn this into a form-filling clip, keystrokes can be inserted between the clips as in the following:
[POPUPITEM=0][TAB][POPUPITEM=1][TAB][POPUPITEM=2]
The above Permanent Clip will paste will simulate a tab keystroke between each of the top 3 clips from the popup.
Executing Windows Commands
The [RUN] variable is used to treat all text that follows as a command to be executed by Windows. The text can be one of the following: a command to be executed in the command prompt, a filename or a program name, or a URL or web address.
[COPY][WAIT][RUN]http://www.google.com/search?q=[CLIPBRDCURRENT]
The above example will copy any highlighted text and use it as the search term for a Google search. The [COPY] command executes a clipboard copy.
The [WAIT] command will pause slightly before executing the next command.
The [RUN] command executes everything after it. In this case, it's a web address.
The [CLIPBRDCURRENT] command contains the results of the [COPY] command. This variable is replaced first before executing the [RUN] command.
ArsClip Windows
Lastly, each window in ArsClip can be opened using a Permanent Clip. This is useful if you want to create a global hotkey to instantly open a window, like Search and Paste, instead of navigating the program or popup to do so.
This allows for opening text directly in a text editor. For example, the following Permanent Clip will copy all text in the target program and open it in the program associated with text files:
[SELECTALL][COPY][WINDOWCLIPBOARD]
By inserting text highlighting keystrokes, the following Permanent Clip uses the same idea to edit only a single line of text in an editor:
[END][KEY="001024SHIFT+HOME"][COPY][WINDOWCLIPBOARD]
Creating Templates
Not only can Permanent Clips string together keystroke and command variables, it can also paste static text as part. In the example below, the current text on the clipboard and the current date is inserted and the entire test is pasted as a single clip:
Part Number: [CLIPBRD]
Date: [DATE="hh:mm ampm"]
Some variables, like keystrokes, will cause all text before it to be pasted before continuing. In the example below, the text is pasted using 2 clips because of the keystroke simulation:
Part Number: [CLIPBRD][ENTER]
Date: [DATE="hh:mm ampm"]
Take note that CLIPBRD is not the same as POPUPITEM=0, since the top clip on the clipboard is not always the last copied clip.
Combining Multiple Clips
In this example, the user copies three clips and wants to paste the items using the order they were copied. Notice below that the "last" copied clip is actually first on the popup, so the item numbers are reversed:
Clip 1 - [POPUPITEM=2]
Clip 2 - [POPUPITEM=1]
Clip 3 - [POPUPITEM=0]
To guarantee that the clips copied are in this order, enable the option [Configuration>Clipboard>Text Clips] that will move a duplicate clip to the top of the list. Without this option, duplicate clips on the popup are ignored by the program.
