The VB 6.0 exe (16 kb) is about the same size as the Delphi 2.0 exe (14 kb). However, the VB distribution package is much larger - 1.46 Mb vs 14 kb. When used via Windows Explorer, both programs are fairly quick.

These programs were designed to let the user copy a full path name to the clipboard using Windows Explorer. Using View / Options... / File Types, edit Folder and add a Copy Path to Clipboard menu selection. The command line should be C:\Utils\CopyToClip.exe "%1" (as appropriate). Notice that Delphi requires the double quotes around the %1; for VB, the double quotes are optional.

To use this, in Windows Explorer, right click on any directory and select Copy Path to Clipboard. Then you can paste the path from the clipboard into most text editors and text fields on forms.

There are times that you will want both the path and a filename. There are 2 possibilities

• Add a similar entry to the registry key that is associated with all files.
  HKCR\*\shell\CopyPath\command
  Default=C:\Utils\CopyToClip.exe "%1"
  Warning: This breaks the MS Office toolbar
• Add a shortcut (or the file itself) to the SendTo directory/menu.
• In some cases, your version of Windows may return the worthless, brain-dead 8-character file and directory names. This appears to be a Windows design problem. It has been seen both ways in both Windows95 and NT 4. You can work around this by using "%L" (percent capital letter el) instead of "%1" (percent one).
  HKCR\*\shell\CopyPath\command
  Default=C:\Utils\CopyToClip.exe "%L"

Unfortunately, the SendTo method produces only a DOS path - typical 8.3 with tildes and no spaces. When the registry is used, long names are placed in the clipboard. (Great OS :)

Attribute VB_Name = "MainModule"
Sub Main()
Dim CmdLine As String
   'Get command line arguments.
  CmdLine = Command()
   ' Clear the contents of the Clipboard.
  Clipboard.Clear
   ' Copy selected text to Clipboard.
  Clipboard.SetText CmdLine
End Sub

CopyToClipboard.exe 16 Kb ----- Distribution 1.46 Mb, Support 2.84 Mb
(If you want this, compile it yourself. Its just too large to distribute.)

program CopyToClip;

uses
  clipbrd;
begin
  clipboard.AsText := ParamStr (1);
end.

Well, this file is 165 K. I decided to see what would happen if I made Windows API calls instead of using the clipbrd unit. The program is about 30 lines of code instead of just 1 ... but the exe is only 14 K. For a discussion of what I tried and the results, see here.

File	Size	Version
CopyToClip.exe	165 Kb	2.0	No additional files needed for distribution
CopyToClip.exe	291 Kb	5.0	Converts long filenames to 8.3 with tildes and no spaces
CopyToClipboard.exe	14 Kb	2.0	No additional files needed for distribution
CopyToClipboard5.exe	17 Kb	5.0	Converts long filenames to 8.3 with tildes and no spaces
CopyToClipboard.dpr			Source code

I don't get it! Delphi 2.0 works perfectly. You right click a file or directory, select copy to clipboard, and you get the expected long file name ... spaces and all. But when you compile the exact same code, the new improved Delphi 5.0 executable saves the worthless 8.3 filenames with tildes and no spaces. I have verified that Delphi 5.0 is not making this change. Therefore, Windows 95 must be assuming the Delphi is producing 16-bit Windows 3.1 code. As explained above, you can use "%L" to force Windows to use the long file and directory names.

When "%1" (percent one) is used, my NT 4.0 and Windows 95 machines at work (one is running IE 5 and the other IE 4.72) do not have this problem with the Delphi 5.0 executable - the file names are fine.

Some VCL hints from the help file.

// TClipboard::SetTextBuf
// void __fastcall SetTextBuf(char * Buffer);
// Clipboard()->Assign(SpeedButton1->Glyph);

Create a new console application and click the Include VCL box. Enter the following code.

#include <condefs.h> #include <Clipbrd.hpp> #pragma hdrstop //---------------- #pragma argsused int main(int argc, char **argv) { if (argc>1) Clipboard()->SetTextBuf(argv[1]); return 0; }

I was never able to get the try...finally blocks to work. It is very confusing. Delphi seems to do this better.

In the registry, you will not need double quotes around the %1.

URL: http:// cpcug.org / user / clemenzi / technical / Languages / CopyToClipboard.htm