Command+C. We all do it, but what if you had the ability to track all of those quick copy and paste transactions? I never really thought there was a need for a clipboard history, but OndeSoft developed ClipBuddy to fill the niche market of clipboard dominance.
According to OndeSoft, ClipBuddy is the “ultimate Clipboard Extender” for OS X that “records everything you cut or copy on the Mac Clipboard, and provides multiple ways to view, edit and past them to any app.” Take a walk with me through your clipboard and learn about the various functions of ClipBuddy.
What does it do?
At the fore, ClipBuddy is a clipboard history tool that saves every copy or cut, which will be used interchangeably throughout this article. As you browse around the internet, read PDFs, check out a Keynote presentation, copy to your hearts content, one right after the other.
As long as ClipBuddy is open – really important to remember that piece so I will say it again – as long as ClipBuddy is open, it will store unlimited number of clips, assign them each an entry number, title the clip (except for images), log the date/time, size of the clip, source app, and the URL if applicable. Each individual clip can be edited in the preview window, which is located in the bottom left. For a specific edit, use the hex edit tool to the right. A search feature binds it all together with a way to search all of the stored clips by title, content, source app, formatting, date, or URL.
Once stored indefinitely, the clips may be pasted back into any other OS X apps. The pasting is a stronger tool than simply Command-V, because ClipBuddy lets the user build multiple clips in the history section. For example, if the user wants to merge a clip with text and a copied image, unite the two clips in ClipBuddy, then paste into the desired location with the paste button in ClipBuddy or Command-V. Whatever clip is highlighted in ClipBuddy, even if it is a combined clip, will paste in the desired location. Finally, if exporting is desired, as opposed to simply pasting, export clips to TXT files or send out images as .jpg, .png., or .bmp.
SuperPaste is a function I never imagined necessary and, frankly, am still a little confused about. To use SuperPaste, there is a sequential system of selecting various clips and then utilizing ClipBuddy to insert then into the location using sequential pasting methods in a looped system. To gain a better understanding, read the SuperPaste Function tutorial.
Conclusion [rating: 3/5]
I spent approximately 30 minutes just trying to figure out how to use ClipBuddy. If you choose to spend the $29.95 on this application, the tutorial section will need to be your buddy until you figure out how everything works. As someone that never relies heavily on copy and paste to build documents or materials, having an editable, searchable, and backed-up history of my copies is a mute point.
However, if you are a copy and paste fool, this may be a very strong tool for you, specifically if you need to copy strings that are formatted a certain way, then paste them back with(out) the formatting. I highly recommend starting with the free trial version (download link) and then deciding if the full blown version is necessary or desired. On a final note, a video tutorial from OndeSoft would greatly enhance the user’s abilities, rather than relying on the meager tutorial section.
Pros:
- Keep a history of all copy/cuts
- History is searchable
- Clips are editable
- Combine clips to paste multiple items at once
Cons:
- Expensive
- Not applicable for normal day-to-day users
- Steep learning curve
