Copy & Paste Text

Cut, Copy, & Paste

Text

Part 1

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Press F11 again to return to the normal screen view

(Printing Tip ) Print only selected portions of a page

The Cut, Copy and Paste function is one of the most useful and important things a computer can do for you. The ability to easily move information from one location to another is what a computer does best. You can copy:

A single word or paragraph

A whole document or groups of documents

A single file or a groups of files

An image or groups of images

And then place it into another document or location. Or you can rearrange text or images on an existing page.

But enough discussion...let's just do it!

The 3 basic steps are:

Highlight what you want to copy

Copy it

Move to where you want it to appear and paste it in

To copy a section of text, you first need to "select" (highlight) the text you wish to copy. There are several ways you can select the text. A quick simple method is to triple-click on the paragraph you wish to copy. The entire paragraph will be highlighted (selected). Triple-click on this paragraph to see an example.

And you can double-click on a word and that word will be selected. Try double-clicking on:        Expeditious

Another way to highlight a section or even just a single word is to "drag" your mouse across the item you want to highlight. Try selecting this word:       Chocolate       "Chocolate" because I thought you might need some nice thoughts by now!

And you can select an entire page or even an entire document using the "Select All" command which is in the Edit menu.

Edit Menu / Keyboard Shortcuts

During this practice session, you will use the commands "Cut" "Copy" and "Paste". These commands can be accessed several different ways. First, they are all available in the "Edit" drop down menu. (Shown on the left.)

Or

You can also access these commands using the Windows Keyboard shortcuts:

Ctrl + C = Copy     Ctrl + X = Cut     Ctrl + V = Paste

Press and hold the Ctrl key, then press the "C", "X", or "V" key then release.

(Tip) If you want to print out a short copy of some of the most useful Keyboard Shortcuts, click here.

Please read printing tip on the Keyboard Shortcuts page.

Finally, you can access these commands (and others) by "right-clicking" on the page or selected item, then left-clicking on the command you want.

Note: To keep the left-click versus right-click mouse buttons clear in your mind, remember that "right-click" is used to access a menu, and that is all. For everything else, use the left-click mouse button.

Highlight, then right-click on the words:

"right-clicking"

Then left-click on "Copy" in the menu.

Next, click into the text box below, and right-click.

In the menu, left-click on "Paste".

You can paste in text into this text box.

You could do the same thing using the Keyboard Shortcuts, or the Edit menus commands.

Please practice with all three methods:

Copy - Paste.

You can use the Ctrl + Z key to undo

And Ctrl + Y key to redo (Keyboard Shortcut Tip)

Technical note: When you "Copy" something, it is retained in a part of your computer called the "Clipboard". Whatever is copied remains on your clipboard until you replace it with something else. The clipboard is also cleared, when you shut down your computer.

Some programs will see that you have copied something to your clipboard and ask if you wish to clear the clipboard. Click yes if you've no further need for the item, or no if you want to retain the item.

Now you can practice using the "Cut" command. Paste a selection of text into the box below, then select a section of the text. right-click on your selection and click "Cut". Notice the portion you cut is removed from the text box. right-click into another area of the text box and select "Paste". Notice the text you "cut" from the first box is now "pasted" into the box. Right now you are moving text from one box in an application (your web browser program) into another text within the same application (program).

Copy Paste From One Program to Another

Using the same methods, you can move the copied text or object into a completely different program. For example, copy/paste a section of text and open another application, maybe your email program, New Mail Message, and right-click into the page. Select "Paste" from the menu and the item will be pasted into the window.

This would work the same way in a word processor (like MS Word, Wordpad, MS Works, etc.)

Sometimes you may wish to copy text from a web page into a text editor program but eliminate the Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML, the language the Web is written in) formatting. A simple way to do that is copy/paste the Web page into Notepad, then into your word processor program.

Start/Programs/Accessories/Notepad

Print Selected Sections of a Page

Selecting specific text or graphic areas is particularly useful when you want to print only a portion of a page, be it a web page, a portion of an email message, or most any other program. When you have selected the portion of the page you wish to print, click the File drop down menu and select "Print". The print window will open. Look at the left center area of the window for the "Selection" option and click it. Then you can click the "OK" button and the printer will only print the "selected" portion of the page. If the "Select" option is "grayed out" or unusable, it means you have not selected anything on the page and will need to click "Cancel" on the print window and go back and highlight the area you wish to print.

Try the selected print.

You can try this on here, by highlighting an area and then clicking the "File" drop down menu and selecting "Print".

Click the "Selection" option as shown above, then click "OK".

Back

If the "Selection" option is unusable, it means that there is nothing selected. Highlight the area you wish to print.

Part 1 covers how to select and copy/paste text from one program to another or within a program to rearrange the composition.

Part 2 explains how to Cut, copy & Paste pictures.

Part 3 completes the series with a discussion of using the copy/paste function to move files.

Back

Copy / Paste Pictures

Copy / Paste Files

Copy / Paste in a DOS Prompt window

Do you find this information helpful?

Let me know... Email to Dwight Blackburn

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Links to other "How To's"

How to download and use WinZip to extract compressed files

How to download and install Programs

How to change file associations

How to save and find files

How to organize your Start Menu - Win 98

Norton AntiVirus Email Error

How to disable background applications in both Win95 and Win 98

How to block porno and other unwanted email messages in Outlook Express

How to download and install an Audio Driver from Hewlett-Packard

How to use the Print Scrn key

To the right of the F12 key

Click on my Email link and tell me what you subject want to see here!

I'm having a problem with my computer, and I need some help, please!

This page last updated:

March 15, 2008

The Cut, Copy and Paste function is one of the most useful and important things a computer can do for you. The ability to easily move information from one location to another is what a computer does best. You can copy: A single word or paragraph A whole document or groups of documents A single file or a groups of files An image or groups of images And then place it into another document or location. Or you can rearrange text or images on an existing page. But enough discussion...let's just do it! The 3 basic steps are: Highlight what you want to copy Copy it Move to where you want it to appear and paste it in To copy a section of text, you first need to "select" (highlight) the text you wish to copy. There are several ways you can select the text. A quick simple method is to triple-click on the paragraph you wish to copy. The entire paragraph will be highlighted (selected). Triple-click on this paragraph to see an example. And you can double-click on a word and that word will be selected. Try double-clicking on: Expeditious Another way to highlight a section or even just a single word is to "drag" your mouse across the item you want to highlight. Try selecting this word: Chocolate "Chocolate" because I thought you might need some nice thoughts by now!
And you can select an entire page or even an entire document using the "Select All" command which is in the Edit menu.		Edit Menu / Keyboard Shortcuts During this practice session, you will use the commands "Cut" "Copy" and "Paste". These commands can be accessed several different ways. First, they are all available in the "Edit" drop down menu. (Shown on the left.) Or You can also access these commands using the Windows Keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl + C = Copy Ctrl + X = Cut Ctrl + V = Paste Press and hold the Ctrl key, then press the "C", "X", or "V" key then release.
(Tip) If you want to print out a short copy of some of the most useful Keyboard Shortcuts, click here. Please read printing tip on the Keyboard Shortcuts page.
Finally, you can access these commands (and others) by "right-clicking" on the page or selected item, then left-clicking on the command you want. Note: To keep the left-click versus right-click mouse buttons clear in your mind, remember that "right-click" is used to access a menu, and that is all. For everything else, use the left-click mouse button.
Highlight, then right-click on the words: "right-clicking" Then left-click on "Copy" in the menu.
Next, click into the text box below, and right-click. In the menu, left-click on "Paste".
You can paste in text into this text box.
You could do the same thing using the Keyboard Shortcuts, or the Edit menus commands.		Please practice with all three methods: Copy - Paste.
You can use the Ctrl + Z key to undo And Ctrl + Y key to redo (Keyboard Shortcut Tip)
Technical note: When you "Copy" something, it is retained in a part of your computer called the "Clipboard". Whatever is copied remains on your clipboard until you replace it with something else. The clipboard is also cleared, when you shut down your computer. Some programs will see that you have copied something to your clipboard and ask if you wish to clear the clipboard. Click yes if you've no further need for the item, or no if you want to retain the item.
Now you can practice using the "Cut" command. Paste a selection of text into the box below, then select a section of the text. right-click on your selection and click "Cut". Notice the portion you cut is removed from the text box. right-click into another area of the text box and select "Paste". Notice the text you "cut" from the first box is now "pasted" into the box. Right now you are moving text from one box in an application (your web browser program) into another text within the same application (program).

Copy Paste From One Program to Another Using the same methods, you can move the copied text or object into a completely different program. For example, copy/paste a section of text and open another application, maybe your email program, New Mail Message, and right-click into the page. Select "Paste" from the menu and the item will be pasted into the window. This would work the same way in a word processor (like MS Word, Wordpad, MS Works, etc.) Sometimes you may wish to copy text from a web page into a text editor program but eliminate the Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML, the language the Web is written in) formatting. A simple way to do that is copy/paste the Web page into Notepad, then into your word processor program. Start/Programs/Accessories/Notepad
Print Selected Sections of a Page Selecting specific text or graphic areas is particularly useful when you want to print only a portion of a page, be it a web page, a portion of an email message, or most any other program. When you have selected the portion of the page you wish to print, click the File drop down menu and select "Print". The print window will open. Look at the left center area of the window for the "Selection" option and click it. Then you can click the "OK" button and the printer will only print the "selected" portion of the page. If the "Select" option is "grayed out" or unusable, it means you have not selected anything on the page and will need to click "Cancel" on the print window and go back and highlight the area you wish to print. Try the selected print. You can try this on here, by highlighting an area and then clicking the "File" drop down menu and selecting "Print". Click the "Selection" option as shown above, then click "OK". Back If the "Selection" option is unusable, it means that there is nothing selected. Highlight the area you wish to print.
Part 1 covers how to select and copy/paste text from one program to another or within a program to rearrange the composition. Part 2 explains how to Cut, copy & Paste pictures. Part 3 completes the series with a discussion of using the copy/paste function to move files.

How to download and use WinZip to extract compressed files	How to download and install Programs	How to change file associations
How to save and find files	How to organize your Start Menu - Win 98	Norton AntiVirus Email Error
How to disable background applications in both Win95 and Win 98	How to block porno and other unwanted email messages in Outlook Express	How to download and install an Audio Driver from Hewlett-Packard
How to use the Print Scrn key To the right of the F12 key		Click on my Email link and tell me what you subject want to see here!
I'm having a problem with my computer, and I need some help, please!