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Best Free Clipboard Replacement Utility
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Introduction
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The default Windows clipboard has two very obvious limitations: it can store only one item at a time and it is cleared everytime the computer restarts. Clipboard replacement utilities will not only solve those problems, they will give you much more power over your clipboard: they provide a clipboard history and they come with additional features such as built-in text editor, additional information about the clip (date&time, origin), launch actions (such as google search)... Because it replaces such a basic feature, clipboard managers have to be simple to use, but that depends on how you use your computer. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to clipboard managers, so I suggest you try some of those freewares for yourself and find the one that suits you the best. |
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Discussion
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I came up with a list of specifications to evaluate clipboard managers:
Ditto is the best clipboard freeware out there and is the only one that fully met my specifications. It's simple yet powerful, extremely fast, light on resources, it stores unlimited clips in a sqlite database and it has hundreds of settings to play with. To name a few of its features: it has searchbox that enables you to find a 3-day-old clipboard within seconds; 3 different virtual clipboards that you can access through dedicated shortcuts; and it has unique network capabilities, making clipboard sharing a reality. Ditto is actively developed, it is more robust, efficient and flexible than most of its competitors. It will fit the needs of both beginners and advanced users, no matter how the use their computer. Ditto has been my main clipboard replacement utility for almost two years, and it has never crashed yet. On the downside, it's difficult to use the stickies feature. CLCL is a simple and consistent clipboard manager that works particularly well with older windows versions, and is very easy to use with either keyboard or mouse. Its development stopped in 2005, and you have to install it manually, but CLCL's strong supporters are proof that it is worth the trouble. ClipX is a clean and simple clipboard manager. Plugins are available to bring some interesting features like a color picker to copy the code of a color, stickies (permanent clips), "search in google" feature... It is not developed anymore (the latest beta was released in 2008), but it remains a very good clipboard manager. Clipboard Help+Spell is a promising clipboard manager, full of features. You can add notes quickly, timestamps, there are powerful text edit features and a spell checker... It is actively developed but it has one major flaw: it does not handle anything else than text. ArsClip is a good option for those looking for a portable clipboard manager. In the zip file, you'll find the portable version, the setup.exe and the source code. Some users may be looking for specific features, so I decided to make a the list of the features I liked when reviewing clipboard freewares. No freeware includes all this features alltogether, but I hope that having this list will make it easier for you to understand what you really want in a clipboard manager.
There are way too many clipboard managers out there to describe them all. List of the clipboard managers I tested for this review: 101 clips (aka M8 free clipboard aka 25 clips), ArsClip, CLCL, Clipboard Help+Spell, Clipboard magic, Clipboard manager (agatasoft), Clipboard Recorder (lw-works), Clipboardic, Clipcube, Clipcycler, Clipguru, Clipmagic, Clipomatic, Cliptorrent, Cliptray, Clipx, Copycat, Ditto, Flashpaste lite, Hovtext, Insideclipboard, Memoclip, Multiclipboard, Pastecopy.net, phraseexpress, Sanvient, Shapeshifter, Tenclips, Yankee Clipper III, xNeat Clipboard manager. Another list can be found in Clipboard Help + Spell help. Phraseexpress is worth noting, although clipboard history is not its main feature. This productivity tool can help you assign abbreviations to your favorite expressions, correct your spelling on the go, launch programs or actions with a keyword... It also stores and organize your most used expressions. Another similar freeware is Flashpaste lite. If you feel like your favorite clipboard manager didn't get the attention it deserved, feel free to drop a comment to explain why you feel so and I'll make sure to test it! |
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Tags
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Clipboard, clips, copy, paste, ctrl+c, ctrl+v |
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Comments
I use Mouse extensively(Chrome+Pig ToolBox).
I want something like 7-zip alike mouse submenu in File Explorer filename rename mode.
Rename file name and right click -> choose VaporWare C&P
-> submenu shows a list of C&P history -> choose one -> paste
Have not found a programs here work on rename/Win FIle Explorer.
I like to put some important information in file name, so I can grep keywords to find the files(Milion+) I want fast.
As to my tiny review,
I found "MiniCLIP 2002 by R. Voska" and ArsClip useful.
MiniCLIP can be placed inside taskbar and scroll to choose paste.
ArsClip can init popup menu by pressing and holding right mouse click, then choose one.
CopyQ is advanced clipboard manager with searchable and editable history with support for image formats, command line control and more:
http://code.google.com/p/copyq/
MyClip is a lightweight, yet handy application designed to help you manage your clipboard entries. It allows you to edit clipboard entries, insert items in the clipboard and modify the clipboard text.
Additionally, you can join or revert clipboard items, search the clipboard and set hotkeys for all the commands to ease your work:
http://myclipapp.weebly.com/index.html
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Office-tools/Clipboard/MyClip.shtml
I have no idea how Ditto performs aside from it's use under Windows 8. The application exhibits a bizarre behavior. It's possible to delete a clip from Ditto's list, but still have the clip PASTED when pressing CTRL-V. I'd offer an opinion about a better freeware app (under Windows 8), but a previous post was rejected for some unknown reason. [Moderators comment: All references to commercial software are removed to deter spam. Please read the rules before posting]
With Win 7, MS started using smoke and mirrors, presenting us with alternate views (in Windows Explorer) of a single folder. Also I believe they maintain 'duplicate' folders that can be updated, yet the original is not. I may not be describing it accurately, but they are doing things which break my 'KISS' rules.
I wonder if something similar is contributing to the problems you are experiencing ?
Perhaps try experimenting with some of these -
- 'Run as Administrator'
- 'Run for all users'
- Using Compatibility mode, such as Win XP
- Are you using the matching 32 bit or 64 bit Ditto ?
- Have you tried both the Install, and the portable versions ?
I only have 32 bit PCs, and I use Win 7 very rarely (I don't like the directions they are taking), so please forgive any lack of precision in my suggestions.
I like " YANKEE CLIPPER III " THE BEST . Very simple and not buggy, can do everything. Pictures etc and can combine everything top to bottom or vice versa then load in editor and save as one file.
You might consider adding to your list.
Does anyone know of one where you can export your saved texts all in one batch like exporting bookmarks in firefox? I want to save all my clippings so I don't lose them.
Yes, ditto will allow you to do that very easily. You can:
1) right click on ditto, then "export clips" and save the file anywhere you want.
2) backup the database (usually located at C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Ditto\Ditto.db)
Thanks for your response buddy!
But when 1 try to export a "group" , which is what I intended to use the software for, and then open the export file of a group or re-import back to ditto, I get an error message.
I've tried evertyhing, but I cannot export a group then have it open or re-import.
I am looking for a SIMPLE clipboard program. Just something that I can put more than one item on the clipboard. I don't need a lot of extra features. I am not tech savvy, & don't understand the tech terms,so the more features it has just makes it harder for me.
Do you know of a program like this? I would appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks
You might consider Clipboard Magic from http://www.cybermatrix.com/clipboard_magic.html
It's very simple, and meets my needs. I'm not affiliated with cybermatrix in any way- just a satisfied user.
Hey, well the top suggestions will easily meet your needs.
Ditto is the best clipboard manager, it's simple and straightforward, yet very powerful.
ClipX might also be a good option, if you don't copy/paste with mouse only.
The most beautifully implemented one has not yet been featured. And it doesn't change your existing habbits.
Could you take a look at it?
http://flamefusion.net/software/shapeshifter
I did try shapeshifter a while ago (2010 or early 2011), and it made a strong impression on me about two things: 1) It was by far the most beautiful clipboard software I had ever seen, and 2) it was buggy as hell :-).
The downloaded file being only 470ish KB, I was impressed, until it downloaded additional files and update my .net framework. That makes it for a painfully lengthy process, most of all when you install from a USB key with no internet access.
Well... now it asks to reboot the computer, and my girlfriend is begging me to go to sleep. Soooo, I guess my first impressions will be for another day.
Hello, nice article about clipboard managers, thanks! You may try Keepboard as well: http://sourceforge.net/projects/keepboard/
Cheers
Wow, nice look and feel, and coming from a java application!
I'll take it for a more thorough test, but here are my first impressions: it's responsive, the customization seems easy, the tabs concept is great and could be further expanded, the preview window below feels like a great addition though I hoped it would be more than a preview window.
One of the set of features I miss from ditto is an advanced text editor that can trim strings, find&replace, convert case to lower case or uppercase...
Overall, great work!
I have been using Ditto for years and have never found a replacement for it. I guess it has changed the way I use my computer and I depend on it for archived information and memory jogging. I allow 1000 items to be saved, and that comes in handy, trust me!
However, for the past year or so it's been a bit annoying. In some dialogs it won't paste directly to the input field. When I double click or hit Enter on the desired clip the open window jumps to the background and I end up clicking the window behind it. Conveniently, it strikes in the programs I use all day long, such as Explorer, Regedit, and Chrome. :-/
I can't figure out what's changed though. I went back to an older version with the same result. I've tried toggling every setting in the program. The only significant change I've made is upgrading to x64. I don't remember these problems on my 32bit system, but when I booted it to test it did the same thing. I'm stumped!
The other must-have utilities that are on all of my computers are SuperCopier, Everything, Volumouse, procexp, Evernote, and f.lux. I really couldn't cope without any of these but, since they are the common denominator, I wonder if something's not pleased with Ditto....
You are not alone, my friend. I too, have searched for a decent replacement for ditto, since it's been acting up a bit, recently. Even though it is not as responsive as it once used to be, it's still by far the best clipboard replacement I've tried.
It never gets in the way, and it allows me to recall really old clipboards. I usually keep everything in memory, so I end up with several thousands of clipboards, some of which are entire excel spreadsheets. There isn't anything as powerful as Ditto out there when it comes to managing a huge database of clipboards, and very few that are as integrated.
I'll try to rerun all my tests and rewrite that review from scratch one of those days, but I have a feeling Ditto will come out on top yet again.
Appreciate your efforts. A question for you on ClipX. I have been using it for some time and like its straightforward simplicity. However, I notice that when I do a mouse over, it shows "" (without the quote marks). Any idea what that means / impact on operation / what to do about it?
Thanks for your assistance.
Can you provide a screenshot?
What do you mouse over when that happens?
Sorry, no screenshot. But, the mouse over occurs when the mouse passes over the ClipX tray notification icon, and the text reads "unsupported clipboard".
Well, nothing pops to my mind. As I said, since the development has been discontinued, bugs may happen.
Multi Clipboard Recorder
Key Features:
1. Records clipboard data and restore it.
2. Support all programs.
3. Support all data formats.
4. Multilingual support.
5. Display the contents of the clipboard.
6.Duplication of data input fast.
7. Portable freeware tool.
http://www.skybn.com/
arto65,
Thanks for your hard work.
There have been extra suggestions posted, which you have looked at.
I appreciate that it would be very time consuming to add extra reviews for all of those, so I won't ask for that.
I wonder if you could just post (say as a reply to my post), a list of names of all those programs (those above, and those suggested by members posts), in the order that you like them ?
Regards,
Rob
Is there a way to right click and see all the clipboard cells on any program?
Thanks,
Rob
Yes, ditto supports click and paste, as well as other programs. Just right click the icon in the system tray, in the lower right part of the screen.
Hi Art,
I saw that I can right click on the icon to bring up the "show quick paste" option or even better double click on the icon to see the saved entries.
I want to be able to right click anywhere on the keyboard to bring up my saved entries. I know this wouldn't be easy to do with Ditto because from the registry it makes 61 direct calls to dlls.
As a quick workaround I just went to options, keyboard shortcuts and created a global shortcut.
Thanks for responding.
I'm glad you find a temporary solution.
Now, I'm not sure I understand "right click anywhere on the keyboard". I feel like I'm missing a piece of the puzzle, could you explain?
All great comments about clipboards-however they all pale in comparison to the the one user name GiantWaffle (what a great name). Had me rotfl. I would trade 10 clipboard progs just to have that moniker!!! Very creative---hmmmm I wonder if StupendousPancake is taken? Have a great day all thanks for the info and the laugh. And I always wanted to tell ya Gizmo--you have one of the most wonderful sites on the entire net--Bless you and thanks for so so much straight solid info with no gimmicks or strings. YOU ROCK!
I am using Windows 7 which does not allow the quick and easy cut,copy/paste function of Windows XP. I do not have a clipboard in Win.7. Some of the solutions mentioned say the problem is the need for a clipboard. Is there a way to restore the simple right click or control C and V. The copy.paste would be the only reason I would need to install a clipboard. I am unable to paste anything anywhere.
Thank you.