how can I paste copied-clipboard text to a file from terminal?

Question

I have copied something from Internet and I want that copied text to get copied to a file. But how can I copy that text without using mouse or any command like Ctrl+V. I want to do this from terminal. How can I do that in Ubuntu 12.04?

Have a look at this http://askubuntu.com/questions/110347/command-line-clipboard-access — Null pointer, May 22 '14 at 15:00

score 18 · Accepted Answer · answered May 22 '14 at 15:13

18

Using xclip.
For writing clipboard to file, overriding existing content:

xclip -o > /path/to/file.txt

or for appending clipboard to file:

xclip -o >> /path/to/file.txt

answered May 22 '14 at 15:13

girardengo

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Good one. +1 from me. – Avinash Raj May 22 '14 at 15:32

nulll · Answer 2 · 2020-11-26T11:22:37.547

17

If you don't want (or you can't) install extra software, you can do it with cat

cat > /path/to/file.txt

after this the terminal waits user input, so you can paste from your clipboard:

Ctrl + Shift + v

Then press Enter

And exit cat with Ctrl + c

I learned this while watching:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDddKmdLEdg

edited Nov 26 '20 at 11:22

answered Apr 08 '20 at 12:30

nulll

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This answer worked on mac terminal. Thank you. – Edmund's Echo Jul 06 '20 at 14:53
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Finally, a solution that works over ssh! – mchid Nov 26 '20 at 00:17
This is the WAY BETTER answer!!! – GWD Feb 19 '21 at 18:10
right-click to paste, instead of Ctrl + Shift + v, worked for me (Ubuntu terminal on WSL), but otherwise great solution, installed xclip for nothing as it did not work. – sritmak Sep 15 '22 at 12:13

rollto · Answer 3 · 2022-05-22T07:00:52.863

0

copy to clipboard then

xsel -o >> note.txt

but it not include new line "\n"

用件、用例(scenario): I input some Japanese 言葉 on google.translate.com then I'd like to take a note to save input history for review it later.

edited May 22 '22 at 07:00

answered May 22 '22 at 06:08

rollto

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score -1 · Answer 4 · answered May 22 '22 at 06:14

-1

Press Ctrl + Shift + C to Copy

Press Ctrl + Shift + V to Paste

answered May 22 '22 at 06:14

Luca The Cat

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"how can I copy that text without using mouse or any command like Ctrl+V" – Tim Jun 01 '22 at 20:51

how can I paste copied-clipboard text to a file from terminal?

4 Answers4