Command Prompt - Copy to Clipboard

How to Enable Copy to Clipboard from Command Prompt in Windows 7​

   Information

This will show you how to enable or disable Quick Edit mode in the command prompt to highlight text within the command prompt to copy to the clipboard in Windows 7.

   Note

You can use this for a normal command prompt or elevated command prompt window

EXAMPLE: Command Prompt
NOTE: This is the command prompt window when you have text highlighted.




Here's How: 1. Open a command prompt, then right click on the title bar of the command prompt and click on Properties. (See screenshot below)

A) Go to step 4 or 5.
2. Open the Start Menu and click on All Programs and Accessories, then right click on Command Prompt shortcut and click on Properties. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This option can only be done using a Command Prompt shortcut. If you do not have one, then you can do step 3 to create a shortcut to use instead.

A) Go to step 4 or 5.
OR

3. If you do not have a shortcut to use in step 2 - A) In Windows Explorer, navigate to C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe, then right click on the cmd.exe file and click on Send To and Desktop (create shortcut). Now right click on the shortcut and click on Properties. (See screenshot below)
4. To Enable Copy to Clipboard A) Click on the Options tab, then check the Quick Edit mode box and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
B) Go to step 6.
5. To Disable Copy to Clipboard A) Click on the Options tab, then uncheck the Quick Edit mode box and click on OK. (See screenshot above)

B) You're done.
6. Now you can highlight text (left click and hold, drag over text) in the command prompt that you want to copy to the Windows 7 clipboard and press enter or right click. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: Notice how the command prompt title changes to Select Command Prompt when you are in Quick Edit mode to highlight the text. The title will return to Command Prompt when you press enter or right click to indicate that it has been copied to the clipboard.
7. You can now right click where you want to copy the text to from the clipboard, then click on Paste.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Open a Command Prompt in Windows 7
• How to Open a Command Prompt at Startup in Windows 7
• How to Open a Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 7
• How to Use "Open Command Window Here" in Windows 7
• How to Add or Remove "Open Command Window Here" from the Context Menu
• Add or Remove "Open Command Window Here as Administrator" to the Context Menu
• How to Personalize the Command Prompt Window
• How to Enable or Disable the Command Prompt in Vista and Windows 7

 

[Night Hawk]

"got ya..."! Right off the command prompt!

 

[Wii Master 64]

i wish this was possible in vista...

 

[Brink]

Hello Wii Master,

It's the same in Vista as well.

 

[Night Hawk]

"Once Vista is back on here I'll have it a try there too!" posting from the command prompt again!

 

[Dinesh]

That is an amazing trick. Always thought of having it. Nice catch Shawn.

 

[Night Hawk]

Shawn always manages to make the best finds for some reason!

 

[Brink]

Shawn always manages to make the best finds for some reason!

It's just those alien advantages.

 

[Night Hawk]

It's just those alien advantages.

That's getting "out there" for sure! :roflmao:

At times I could have sworn I had something highlighted in a command prompt and pasted into Note Pad. But this certainly is a great reminder just the same!

 

[Wii Master 64]

Hello Wii Master,

It's the same in Vista as well.

well, i went to the file that you specified in explorer, but when i right clicked it and hit properties, all that came up was 4 tabs that said general, security, and i forgot what the other 2 said. do i need to take ownership or something?

 

[Brink]

well, i went to the file that you specified in explorer, but when i right clicked it and hit properties, all that came up was 4 tabs that said general, security, and i forgot what the other 2 said. do i need to take ownership or something?

Hello Wii Master,

It can only be done using a command prompt shortcut. Tutorial updated.

 

[Wii Master 64]

ok, thanks for telling me that. i figured it out now! that can really come in handy i also tried it in XP, and it works there as well.

 

[chuckr]

Hello Wii Master,

It can only be done using a command prompt shortcut. Tutorial updated.

I enjoyed this posting yesterday but had no time for reply.

FWIW, I've been doing something 'similar' since the old millenium with NT.

I generally use a different 'technique', but its available at any DOS-box.
(Running XP right now, but W7 works the same.)

1. R-click the icon at UpperLeft.

2. Click 'Properties' - This gives the whole 'shebang'...
My main targets here are the tabs, for 'Font' and 'color', and sometimes 'Layout' to set 'Window size' to 40 lines.

3. If you do not click 'Properties', and instead slide the cursor to 'Edit >'
you can click on 'Mark' - this allows highlighting with Left mouse-button,
dragging to hilite the area of interest.
Once done with that, hit 'Enter' on the KB. This copies hi-lite area to Clipboard, and you can Paste to wherever. (I use Notepad).

4. To 'copy' the entire screen, don't click 'Mark', but click 'Select All'.
Then, hit 'Enter' on the KB.

5. Since I don't like the default font, I use 'Lucida Console' at 14 points.
I also prefer the Green on Black for text-work.
Oh, and click: "Modify shortcut that started", if you want "persistence"...

Hope this helps...
(Don't want to spoil my reputation...)

 

[Night Hawk]

"I'll try copy and pasting this little change!"

 

[Brink]

I enjoyed this posting yesterday but had no time for reply.

FWIW, I've been doing something 'similar' since the old millenium with NT.

I generally use a different 'technique', but its available at any DOS-box.
(Running XP right now, but W7 works the same.)

1. R-click the icon at UpperLeft.

2. Click 'Properties' - This gives the whole 'shebang'...
My main targets here are the tabs, for 'Font' and 'color', and sometimes 'Layout' to set 'Window size' to 40 lines.

3. If you do not click 'Properties', and instead slide the cursor to 'Edit >'
you can click on 'Mark' - this allows highlighting with Left mouse-button,
dragging to hilite the area of interest.
Once done with that, hit 'Enter' on the KB. This copies hi-lite area to Clipboard, and you can Paste to wherever. (I use Notepad).

4. To 'copy' the entire screen, don't click 'Mark', but click 'Select All'.
Then, hit 'Enter' on the KB.

5. Since I don't like the default font, I use 'Lucida Console' at 14 points.
I also prefer the Green on Black for text-work.
Oh, and click: "Modify shortcut that started", if you want "persistence"...

Hope this helps...
(Don't want to spoil my reputation...)

Thank you Chuck. I added this as an option in step 1 of this tutorial.

 

[chuckr]

Thank you Chuck. I added this as an option in step 1 of this tutorial.

You're welcome, Shawn.

It was kind of fun doing the write-up.
(Maybe some people would like Yellow text on black, etc)

And, Thank you!

 

[tartansailor]

Greetings,
I did the above, but it's WORD that I am trying to copy too, and I can not copy to WORD.

Help would be greatly appreciated.

Dick

 

[Brink]

Hello Dick, and welcome to Seven Forums.

In the command prompt, highlight what you want to copy, then right click on it to add it to the clipboard. Next in Word, click on the page where you would like to copy it to, then press CTRL+V to copy it there.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[tartansailor]

Hi Brink,
I'll be!
It worked!!
Sincere thanks,
Dick

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.