Copy and Paste commands in various programs

henry_faulkner · 06-06-2017, 02:05 PM

So I am aware that Linux does not have the traditional copy paste commands that windows does. I am migrating to GNU/Linux from Windows and am so far loving it. However, the omission of these commands from the system is seriously impacting the speed at which I do things on my computer. Right clicking doesn't work as quickly for me and it is rather finicky with my thinkpad laptop (T440). (I am running Debian if relevant)

As far as I know, there is no way to universally install these commands on the system. However I have seen their inclusion in numerous programs. The one that comes to mind at the moment is the image editor Pinta. If possible, I'd like to know if there is a way to install these commands on the programs I use the most frequently. My internet browser (Firefox) would be especially helpful.

TL;DR how can I install control v, c, p, x etc on as many programs as possible?

AwesomeMachine · 06-07-2017, 07:07 AM

Hi pastelshoal,

Welcome to LQ!

So, then CTRL-x, CTRL-v and CTRL-c and edit > copy, cut and paste don't work for you? Or do you have to right click something to make it count as universal? I can't think of anything more universal in Linux than the clipboard.

hydrurga · 06-07-2017, 07:21 AM

Hi pastelshoal.

You need to provide us with a specific example (name of application, action that you're trying to do etc.) where you're encountering problems.

ctrl-c, v and x are almost ubiquitous in Linux applications.

I'm using Firefox on Linux at the moment and copying/pasting within this reply window using ctrl-c and ctrl-v with no problems.

Soadyheid · 06-07-2017, 07:57 AM

Hi! Welcome to LinuxQuestions.

At a lower level, in a terminal window, just select/highlight the text you want to copy, it can then be pasted at a new cursor position using the middle button/scroll-wheel.

Play Bonny!

erik2282 · 06-07-2017, 09:41 AM

+1 for pasting with mouse scroll-wheel click

rtmistler · 06-07-2017, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pastelshoal

So I am aware that Linux does not have the traditional copy paste commands that windows does. I am migrating to GNU/Linux from Windows and am so far loving it. However, the omission of these commands from the system is seriously impacting the speed at which I do things on my computer. Right clicking doesn't work as quickly for me and it is rather finicky with my thinkpad laptop (T440). (I am running Debian if relevant)

As far as I know, there is no way to universally install these commands on the system. However I have seen their inclusion in numerous programs. The one that comes to mind at the moment is the image editor Pinta. If possible, I'd like to know if there is a way to install these commands on the programs I use the most frequently. My internet browser (Firefox) would be especially helpful.

TL;DR how can I install control v, c, p, x etc on as many programs as possible?

Quote:

Originally Posted by hydrurga

Hi pastelshoal.

You need to provide us with a specific example (name of application, action that you're trying to do etc.) where you're encountering problems.

ctrl-c, v and x are almost ubiquitous in Linux applications.

I'm using Firefox on Linux at the moment and copying/pasting within this reply window using ctrl-c and ctrl-v with no problems.

Everyone else is correct with their statements about how cut/copy/paste work in terminals or Linux programs, or the browser.

Hydrurga is also very correct (as anyone else who may have echoed this sentiment), which is that we need more detail here.

Why do you feel this is not working? Have you tried these same actions and not found them to work? You are literally saying that you can't select text for say a hyperlink using the mouse, hit CTRL-C and then go maybe to a new tab location bar and hit CTRL-V where it works? Can you select any text from your browser, copy it, and then go to a text editor and paste it?

suicidaleggroll · 06-07-2017, 02:05 PM

Lenovos swap the Ctrl and Fn key locations on the keyboard. For convenience, they also provide an option in the BIOS to swap the Fn and Ctrl key functions, so that Ctrl can still be where you're used to it (bottom left corner). As a result, either the Ctrl or Fn keys can operate as Ctrl depending on your BIOS settings. Maybe somebody went in and swapped your settings, have you verified that Ctrl+c and Ctrl+v don't work using either of the Ctrl/Fn keys?

The only programs I'm aware of where Ctrl+c and Ctrl+v don't work as expected are some text editors and the terminal, in which case there's usually a similar shortcut (Ctrl+Shift+c, etc).