Add copy-from/paste-back functionality

[cknadler]

This is a pretty commonly requested feature.

When vim-anywhere is invoked:

• copy all of the text from whatever is currently selected
• open a vim buffer containing the copied text
• once closed, paste the text back into the previous application, replacing whatever text was originally copied

This should be implemented as an alternate keybinding. Something like ctrl+cmd+c (OSX) or ctrl+alt+c (Linux). The current functionality of ctrl+cmd+v shouldn't change at all.

[lavignes]

As far as the Linux install is concerned we'll have to add xdotool as a dependency. Though I might just use the xclipboard buffer. By default in X any selected text is already in the xclipboard buffer.

The flow will be like so:

• get window ID with xdotool
• take the xclipboard buffer with xclip and put into a new vim buffer
• on quit: refocus window with xdotool
• xdotool type "file contents"

That's the the best way I know in Linux.

[cknadler]

Is xdotool a requirement for invoking keystrokes via the command line?

[lavignes]

It can simulate any input from the command line. It could also simulate a ctrl+v but that isn't as universal as just simulating typing the entire buffer. There could be some issues. But it needs to be implemented to know for sure.

[cknadler]

Neat. Good to know. I'm less inclined to try to support this now that I know it will require external dependencies. Surprisingly, on OSX, it's all possible through AppleScript.

[Hettomei]

I think that "automatically past buffer in primary app at the end" is a bad idea, why ?

Here is my workflow for wich it fail :

• starting a comment on a website
• tell me "hum, it will be too long, switch to vim"
• having all buffer populated with primary app
• go throught the internet to improve my comment <-- here is the problem
• forget to go back to the last selected text <-- and here
• quit vim
• lot of text pasted somewhere but not in previous area

That's why I prefere having to type cmd-v at the end.

[cknadler]

@Hettomei

We would be implementing it under a separate keybinding. The default behavior wouldn't change. I'm with you, I prefer to manually type cmd-v.

[simonweil]

👍

[Govan]

I've presently got a rough and ready version of copy-text-from-current-app-into-buffer working for OSX. Do you have any issues with taking pull requests that only work on one platform?

[cknadler]

@Govan Sorry about the crazy late response.

I'd rather keep the feature set consistent across both platforms. That said, if you have something working on OSX, I bet we can figure it out and port it to Linux. Feel free to post a PR and we'll follow up. ^_^

[anrddh]

Has any progress been made with this feature? I would love to contribute but I have no experience with AppleScript :(

[vitaly-zdanevich]

It is possible to achieve this with a simple companion browser extension.