Features/CopyPasteJustWorks

= "Windows-style" copy & paste that "just works!" (by default), so that clipboard contents are never lost =

Summary
Users should never lose the contents of their clipboard when closing an application. In order to address this potential usability and adoption barrier – without requiring any special configuration or knowledge on the part of the user (it will "just work!"), and without cluttering-up the user interface – Fedora should include Parcellite in the default (non-upgrade) installation and session, using the daemon mode option ( 'parcellite --daemon' ).

Current status

 * Targeted release: Fedora 13
 * Last updated: 2009-11-22
 * Percentage of completion: 0%

About
Parcellite is a lightweight GTK+ clipboard manager. This is a stripped down, basic-features-only clipboard manager with a small memory footprint for those who like simplicity.

Features

 * 1) Keeps a clipboard history.
 * 2) Various view options to display items the way you like it.
 * 3) Daemon mode; guard your clipboard contents when you close applications.
 * 4) Global hotkeys to display your items quickly.
 * 5) Perform custom commands using clipboard contents.

The Daemon Mode
Runs completely in the background and is transparent to the end-user. When an application is closed (in a current default installation of Fedora), the contents of the clipboard (if copied from the just-closed window) are generally lost. This is a source of frustration for many users – especially those who are in transition from Windows to Linux. The daemon mode option of Parcellite allows the user to paste previously-copied text into another application after the first application (the one from which the text originated) is closed. This is the behavior that many Windows users have come to expect. The result can be achieved without adding unnecessarily to user-visible configuration or interface clutter commonly associated with full-featured clipboards. There is no need for added complexity, point-and-click interaction, or clipboard-specific key combinations – the user need only press the familiar 'Ctrl-V' sequence.

Benefit to Fedora

 * Reduces chance for losing work or information.
 * Lessons barrier to Linux adoption.
 * Scores user-friendliness points.
 * Makes Fedora more attractive compared with other distributions.

Scope

 * 1) Requires including Parcellite in the default installation (non-upgrade).
 * 2) Requires adding Parcellite to the default (non-upgrade) session ( 'parcellite --daemon' ).

How To Test

 * 1) Open Firefox
 * 2) Select the URL from the location bar, then copy via 'Ctrl-C'
 * 3) Close Firefox
 * 4) Open gedit
 * 5) Paste into the text content area via 'Ctrl-V'

This sequence will not work in the current default installation of Fedora, but will work if Parcellite is running in daemon mode.

User Experience

 * 1) Open Application-A
 * 2) Select text, then press 'Ctrl-C'
 * 3) Close Application-A
 * 4) Open Application-B
 * 5) Press 'Ctrl-V'
 * 6) "Hey! It works!"

User will no longer have to worry about losing the contents of their clipboard. The possibility for confusion resultant of unfulfilled expectations will no longer be applicable for this use case.

Dependencies

 * The Parcellite package (parcellite) and all dependencies (including gtk >= 2.10.0 and glib >= 2.14.0) are already available in the Fedora repositories.

Contingency Plan

 * Hold off on implementation until a later release – do not ship in Fedora 13 default (non-upgrade) installation and session.

NAME
Parcellite - Lightweight GTK+ Clipboard Manager

SYNOPSIS
parcellite [OPTION]

DESCRIPTION
Parcellite is a lightweight GTK+ clipboard manager. This is a stripped down, basic-features-only clipboard manager with a small memory footprint for those who like simplicity.

Parcellite features a clipboard CLI. Unrecognized options and the contents of your standard input get copied to your clipboard. See CLI EXAMPLES.

OPTIONS
-?, --help

Show help options

-d, --daemon

Run as daemon. Use this mode if you just want Parcellite to keep your clipboard and primary contents safe

-n, --no-icon

Do not use status icon

-c, --clipbard

Print clipboard contents

-p, --primary

Print primary contents

CLI EXAMPLES

 * echo "copied to clipboard" | parcellite
 * parcellite "copied to clipboard"
 * echo "copied to clipboard" | parcellite -o

ACTIONS
Parcellite's actions perform commands using the contents of your clipboard. "%s" in the command is replaced with the clipboard contents.

AUTHOR
Written by Gilberto "Xyhthyx" Miralla .

Release Notes

 * The copy & paste action now "just works!" in a default installation of Fedora. Clipboard contents will no longer be lost when an application is closed.

Comments and Discussion

 * See Talk:Features/CopyPasteJustWorks