Save the contents of the clipboard to a variable

[_AWID_]

Hello

I haven't found an easy solution here to work with the clipboard contents by placing it in a variable, to modify it. Using paste() it will be placed in the document. But first I want to format it and delete some of its parts.

Regards

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Create TextFrame, paste clipboard, read contents - do what you need. 

[_AWID_]

(...and after all delete the TextFrame.)

Only this workaround is possible?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

It should be possible in official / latest version of JS - but InDesign's version is limited and outdated - and I'm not JS guy, sorry.

[_AWID_]

No problem. Thanks for your answer.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

You're welcome. 

[_AWID_]

Okay, I did that. But I realized this way I couldn't do what I wanted:

1. I copy some values ​​from a PDF in Acrobat

2. I select one or more cells in a table in InDesign

3. I paste the (edited) content of my clipboard into the table/cells

This would not work in the workflow if I let InDesign create a TextFrame first. Then my selection is lost.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Rememmber your selection first.

Create a new, invisible document - work there - close - go back to your original document.

Selection in InDesign is per Document.

There is always more than one way to skin the proverbial cat 😉

[_AWID_]

What do you mean by “remember”? 😞

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

What do you mean by “remember”? 😞

By @_AWID_

You can save selection to a variable:. 

var myCurSel = app.activeDocument.selection;

 "selection" is a collection like everything else - Stories, Tables, TextFrames, etc.

[_AWID_]

it looks like a good option 🙂

I´ll try as soon as I can. Thanks

[Dirk Becker]

On some platforms, clipboard operations are available from the platform scripting system.

var text = app.doScript("the clipboard as text",ScriptLanguage.APPLESCRIPT_LANGUAGE);

On other platforms, search recommends to use the HTMLFile object.

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/19696308/how-can-i-use-clipboard-in-vbscript

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Yes, on Windows, in VB6 it's built-in. 

[_AWID_]

I actually work on a Mac.

[Kasyan Servetsky]

Here's how to get the clipboard contents.