1 files changed, 49 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/cmd2/clipboard.py b/cmd2/clipboard.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e0d1fc03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd2/clipboard.py
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+# coding=utf-8
+"""
+This module provides basic ability to copy from and paste to the clipboard/pastebuffer.
+"""
+import sys
+
+import pyperclip
+
+# Newer versions of pyperclip are released as a single file, but older versions had a more complicated structure
+try:
+    from pyperclip.exceptions import PyperclipException
+except ImportError:  # pragma: no cover
+    # noinspection PyUnresolvedReferences
+    from pyperclip import PyperclipException
+
+# Can we access the clipboard?  Should always be true on Windows and Mac, but only sometimes on Linux
+# noinspection PyUnresolvedReferences
+try:
+    # Get the version of the pyperclip module as a float
+    pyperclip_ver = float('.'.join(pyperclip.__version__.split('.')[:2]))
+
+    # The extraneous output bug in pyperclip on Linux using xclip was fixed in more recent versions of pyperclip
+    if sys.platform.startswith('linux') and pyperclip_ver < 1.6:
+        # Avoid extraneous output to stderr from xclip when clipboard is empty at cost of overwriting clipboard contents
+        pyperclip.copy('')
+    else:
+        # Try getting the contents of the clipboard
+        _ = pyperclip.paste()
+except PyperclipException:
+    can_clip = False
+else:
+    can_clip = True
+
+
+def get_paste_buffer() -> str:
+    """Get the contents of the clipboard / paste buffer.
+
+    :return: contents of the clipboard
+    """
+    pb_str = pyperclip.paste()
+    return pb_str
+
+
+def write_to_paste_buffer(txt: str) -> None:
+    """Copy text to the clipboard / paste buffer.
+
+    :param txt: text to copy to the clipboard
+    """
+    pyperclip.copy(txt)