The {{KW|_CLIPBOARD$}} function returns the current Operating System's clipboard contents as a [[STRING]].


{{PageSyntax}}
:''result$'' = {{KW|_CLIPBOARD$}}


{{PageDescription}}
* Text returned can contain the entire contents of a copied file or web page.
* The string returned can also contain formatting like CRLF ([[CHR$]](13) + [[CHR$]](10)) end of line characters.
* The clipboard can be used to copy, paste and communicate between running programs.


''Example:'' Passing a string value between two running programs no matter where they are located.

Program1:
{{CodeStart}} '' ''
{{Cl|PRINT}} "Start Program2 to read your text entries! Empty entry quits!"
{{Cl|_CLIPBOARD$ (statement)|_CLIPBOARD$}} = "Entry program started!"            'set clipboard initially

DO
  {{Cl|LINE INPUT}} "Enter some text to send to other program: ", text$
  {{Cl|IF...THEN|IF}} text$ = "" {{Cl|THEN}} {{Cl|EXIT DO}}
  {{Cl|_CLIPBOARD$ (statement)|_CLIPBOARD$}} = text$
{{Cl|LOOP}}

{{Cl|SYSTEM}} '' ''
{{CodeEnd}}
Program2:
{{CodeStart}}
{{Cl|PRINT}} "Enter text in Program1 and this program will read it. Esc key quits!"

DO
  text$ = {{Cl|_CLIPBOARD$}}                       'function returns clipboard contents
  {{Cl|IF...THEN|IF}} {{Cl|LEN}}(text$) {{Cl|THEN}} 
     {{Cl|PRINT}} text$
     {{Cl|_CLIPBOARD$ (statement)|_CLIPBOARD$}} = ""                       'clear clipboard after a read
  {{Cl|END IF}}
{{Cl|LOOP}} {{Cl|UNTIL}} {{Cl|INKEY$}} = {{Cl|CHR$}}(27)

{{Cl|END}}  '' ''
{{CodeEnd}}
:''Explanation:'' Compile and run both programs at once to see the interaction. You could also run them on different paths.



{{PageSeeAlso}}
* [[_CLIPBOARD$ (statement)]]


{{PageNavigation}}