Feature: add copy on select (per Unix terminals)

[mikemaccana]

Similar to #523, except the reverse: selected data in the terminal is not copyable to other apps.

Your Windows build number: (Type ver at a Windows Command Prompt)

Can't tell you, because when I select it it won't paste into this form!

But using another terminal app (and fixing the command to work with Windows default shell):

$ #[Environment]::OSVersion.VersionString
Microsoft Windows NT 10.0.18890.0

What you're doing and what's happening: (Copy & paste specific commands and their output, or include screen shots)

Both:

• Highlighting text to select it then pasting it fails
• Highlighting text, pressing Ctrl C (which shouldn't be necessary) and then pasting it fails

What's wrong / what should be happening instead:

Different data is pasted

It should be pasting whatever was selected in the terminal.

Here's the options provided by Fluent Terminal:

[zadjii-msft]

@carlos-zamora is working on this currently :)

[nizos]

I have no problem doing this. This is how I copy/paste:
Mouse left click and hold to select text.
Release left click.
Mouse right click once on selected text.
It is now in your clipboard.

---

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.18362.86]

[mikemaccana]

@nizos Selecting should copy the text to the clipboard immediately per any other terminal. Doing additional steps is a workaround, not a fix.

[nizos]

@mikemaccana I have read the bug report. I just didn’t know that the terminal is supposed to copy anything selected immediately. Where did you read that it is supposed to work that way? I have always used the method I described to copy text in command prompt.

[mikemaccana]

@nizos Copying immediately on select has been default on Unix terminals for at least 21 years, but probably longer than that.

[zadjii-msft]

Clearly, lots of people have varying opinions on how they want their text to be copy/pasteable from the terminal. That's why we're hoping to make it a feature that's customizable to however you like :)

[carlos-zamora]

Yeah. I'm working on the keybindings. Really just need to make sure I send the VT sequence.

As for the copying immediately on selection, I'll be sure to make a setting and add that functionality.

[jberanek]

Middle mouse button paste would be awesome too.

[mikemaccana]

@jberanek Right click paste works now, but agreed it would be good to allow it to be middle mouse too. You should probably make a separate issue though!

[zadjii-msft]

Man what we really need is a way to set mouse-bindings as well as keybindings. I believe @carlos-zamora is working on a spec for that (and I'll let him link the appropriate thread in for that discussion)

[timriker]

More details from #1332 :
Dragging should highlight like console, but automatically put the highlighted text into the clipboard and leave it highlighted.

Selection should NOT include trailing spaces as the current terminal incorrectly does with ctrl-shift-c, It should post multiple lines to the clipboard.
The selection should look for characters are actual spaces, and not blanks and not replace blanks with spaces.

Dragging with alt or control held down should select a block instead of rolling lines.

Clicking the middle mouse button should paste the clipboard.

Mouse wheel should scroll, perhaps 3 lines at a time.

This functionality can be compared with xfce4-terminal or gnome-terminal on a Linux box, or on WSL under X servers like VcXsrv. Also compare to MoboXterm support. XTerm is similar but lacks the block select feature.

[cyberixae]

I am happy that there already seems to be some way to do copy/paste. However, I'm not a big fan of right click performing actions. Typically right click would open a context menu. Trying to open a menu and running a set of commands in a terminal by accident sounds like a nightmare.

I did some voluntary work on Freedesktop.org clipboard specification back in 2007. Clipboards seem to be a rather controversial topic and I think unix clipboards are still not consistent. I tried to post an update to the specification back then to fill in some gaps and add some ideas that I gathered from elsewhere. Not sure what happened after I stopped working on it. However, my original mailing list post seems to still be available if someone is interested. https://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/xdg/2007-November/008985.html

[Shorotshishir]

regarding highlight and copy, I see some abnormal behavior. left click selects a character and if you click and drag from the tab it marks everything in between and copies. if you double click right, it pastes too. Works for any terminal.

reference video: https://imgur.com/a/jomxTJY

[TCB13]

@nizos Copying immediately on select has been default on Unix terminals for at least 21 years, but probably longer than that.

Yeah, basic functionality that should be available from day one in Windows Terminal.

[shamoons]

Can't wait for this feature to work. Having to use a mouse is detestable

[solacens]

Is this my problem or double-clicking words won't smart select the word at the moment?

[carlos-zamora]

Is this my problem or double-clicking words won't smart select the word at the moment?

In PR #1197

[solacens]

Thanks @carlos-zamora

Will it be included in the next preview version from Microsoft Store? Can't wait to test it!

[shamoons]

Do we know when the next preview will be released from the Store?

[MoshiBin]

Can we have a keybind for paste? I personally like Shift+Insert but if there's a way to set any binding to paste that would be better.

[cactysman]

This currently is the only thing keeping me away from the terminal.

[mikemaccana]

I just tried 0.3, in case there was any updates not mentioned in the thread, status is same as #524 (comment)

[ghost]

🎉This issue was addressed in #2152, which has now been successfully released as Windows Terminal Preview v0.4.2382.0.:tada:

Handy links:

• Release Notes
• Store Download

[DHowett-MSFT]

@JonDavis-AZED Sorry, the resolution to the already-resolved “add an optional copy on select feature” request should include something about dragging the tab strip?

[Enorma]

just my two cents...
RIGHT click should paste the CLIPBOARD,
MIDDLE click should paste the SELECTION.