Skip to main content

Templates

Templates allow you to paste a clip along with metadata like date/time, source URL, and sequence numbers. It works like a mail merge—you create a layout with "tags" that are replaced with clip data when pasting.

Example​

Captured clip:

Aspirin - good for headaches, fever, blood thinning. 
Hard on stomach.

Template:

Source: #URL#
Captured: #DATE# #TIME#
----------------------------------------------------
#CLIP#
----------------------------------------------------
Pasted: #CURRENTDATE# #CURRENTTIME#

Result when pasting:

Source: http://www.example.com/aspirin.htm
Captured: 9/2/2024 11:59:02 PM
----------------------------------------------------
Aspirin - good for headaches, fever, blood thinning. 
Hard on stomach.
----------------------------------------------------
Pasted: 9/3/2024 08:59:02 AM

Available Tags​

TagReplaced With
#CLIP#The clip content
#DATE#Date clip was captured
#TIME#Time clip was captured
#CREATOR#Source application
#TITLE#Clip title
#URL#Source URL (if from browser)
#CURRENTDATE#Current date when pasting
#CURRENTTIME#Current time when pasting
#SEQUENCE#Sequence number (1, 2, 3...)

How It Works​

Unlike QuickPaste Format Strings (which send keystrokes), templates pre-assemble the output before transferring to the clipboard. The merged result is placed on the clipboard as a single piece of text.

Advantages​

  • More reliable than keystroke-based methods
  • No "runaway macro" situations
  • No keystroke compatibility problems

Limitations​

  • Cannot send navigation keys (Tab, Enter)
  • Only works with plain text clips
  • HTML, RTF, Bitmap formats are not processed

Creating Custom Templates​

Templates are text files in the Templates directory:

C:\Program Files\ClipMate\Templates

To create a template:

  1. Open the Templates menu
  2. Select Open Directory
  3. Create a new .txt file
  4. Add your template text with tags
  5. Restart ClipMate or refresh the list

The filename (without extension) becomes the menu item name.

Using Templates​

  1. Add the Template button to the toolbar
  2. Click the drop-down arrow to see available templates
  3. Select a template to activate it
  4. When you select or paste a clip, it's merged with the template

Templates remain active until you select another template, select "None," or quit ClipMate.

Reset Sequence​

The #SEQUENCE# tag increments with each paste. Reset it from the Templates menu.

Compatibility​

Templates work with:

  • QuickPaste
  • PowerPaste
  • Exploding PowerPaste

Troubleshooting​

Q: I see "#URL#" literally when pasting. A: You may have accidentally activated a template. Select "None" from the template menu.

Q: Source URL isn't appearing. A: Source URL is only available when copying from browsers that supply it in the HTML data. Internet Explorer and Firefox support this; Opera may require DDE (enable in Advanced options).

See Also​