Use the power of macros
Flashpaste makes it easy to insert frequently used blocks of text. With macros, it can do even more. The latest version of Flashpaste gives us a powerful and flexible tool: improved macros.
Do you want to paste the current time? Or maybe the current date? Easy. Just use the %ExTime(...)% macro. For example, %ExTime(#c)% will insert "03/22/07 07:34:28". And %ExTime(#B #d, #Y)% will add the "March 22, 2007" line to the document. You can configure the date output format to your liking.
Perhaps you need yesterday's date or want to write that a document will be finished in 3 days. The latest version of Flashpaste supports this. Just use the date shift, for example %ExTime(+1d;#B #d, #Y)% will insert the date for tomorrow — "March 23, 2007".
Does Flashpaste have trouble pasting text into a particular application? This doesn't mean you should throw it away and type manually. Try to enclose your text in the %Print(...)% macro. For example: %Print(Text you want to enter in the input field)%.
Maybe the simplest macro is %Clip()%, which allows you to use the clipboard in your strings. This macro is surely useful for programmers or web-designers. Are you creating an HTML page? Copy the link to the clipboard and then insert the following line:
<a href="%Clip()%" target="_blank"></a>%Control(left*4)%
and you will get the link code. All that remains is to write the link text. You do not even have to move the cursor to the correct position: %Control(left*4)% will do this for you.
%Control(...)% - the most powerful and complex macro. It allows you to simulate control key presses. For example, you can "press" the left arrow 4 times to move the cursor to the necessary place as in the example above. Or send the Tab key to the application to move to the next input field, or Enter to press the Submit key. Thus, you can fill in complex forms with standard text in a single action. %Control(...)% is a versatile macro that allows you to construct complex statements, for example:
%Control(@100_alt_PRINTSCREEN)%%Open(mspaint.exe|Open||3)%%Control(@1000_ctrl_v)%
This macro will take a screenshot of the active window, open MS Paint and insert the screenshot, so you can start editing immediately.
If you are interested in this macro, you can find detailed information in the program help system. And finally I will tell you about one more simple macro - %Open(...)%. This macro allows you to use Flashpaste as a program "launcher". %Open(...)% can launch programs, open frequently used documents or web-pages.
As a conclusion: the main purpose of Flashpaste is to facilitate text input, however now you can use this universal tool for a wide variety of tasks. Launching applications, controlling them using control keys, using clipboard data, extended capabilities for inserting the dates and of course getting rid of boring text typing - won't this make your work easier? Try and see for yourself.
