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# X-Clipboard on Commandline

---- dataentry snipplet ---- snipplet_tags: clipboard, x11, xclip, readline LastUpdate_dt: 2010-07-31 Contributors: Josh Triplett type: snipplet

    # Make Control-v paste, if in X and if xclip available - Josh Triplett
    if [ -n "$DISPLAY" ] && [ -x /usr/bin/xclip ] ; then
        # Work around a bash bug: \C-@ does not work in a key binding
        bind '"\C-x\C-m": set-mark'
        # The '#' characters ensure that kill commands have text to work on; if
        # not, this binding would malfunction at the start or end of a line.
        bind 'Control-v: "#\C-b\C-k#\C-x\C-?\"$(xclip -o -selection c)\"\e\C-e\C-x\C-m\C-a\C-y\C-?\C-e\C-y\ey\C-x\C-x\C-d"'
    fi

The behaviour is a bit tricky to explain:

- kill text after the cursor
  - since the kill command wants text, it blindly adds a fake text \"#\" here
- kill text before the cursor
  - since the kill command wants text, it blindly adds a fake text \"#\" here, too
- write out `"$(xclip -o -selection c)"`
- run Control-Meta-e (shell-expand-line) to expand the `"$(xclip -o -selection c)"`
- yank the previously killed text back where it belongs

Of course you can use any other command, you\'re not limited to `xclip` here.

Note: C-@ as well as M-SPC both works and set the mark for me -- pgas

November 7, 2024
November 7, 2024

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