📋 Clip-to-File

PowerShell utility that instantly saves your clipboard content to organized files with timestamped names.

Maintained by

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✨ Features

• Smart Detection: Automatically detects images and text in your clipboard
• Instant Save: One command saves clipboard content with zero configuration
• Organized Output: Files saved with clean timestamps (YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS format)
• Conflict Resolution: Automatically handles duplicate filenames by appending numbers
• Configurable: Simple INI-based configuration with sensible defaults
• Error Handling: Friendly error messages with pause prompts to read before window closes
• Explorer Integration: Optionally open Windows Explorer with the saved file selected

🚀 Quick Start

1. Download: Clone or download clip-to-file.ps1
2. Run: Execute the script from PowerShell

   .\clip-to-file.ps1

3. Done: Your clipboard content is now saved!

📁 How It Works

Image Content

• Input: Any image copied to clipboard (screenshots, copied images from web, etc.)
• Output: 20250118_143025.jpg (saved as high-quality JPEG)

Text Content

• Input: Any text copied to clipboard
• Output: 20250118_143025.txt (saved as UTF-8 text file)

File Conflicts

If a file with the same timestamp exists, the script automatically appends a number:

• 20250118_143025.jpg
• 20250118_143025_1.jpg
• 20250118_143025_2.jpg

⚙️ Configuration

The script creates a clip-to-file.ini configuration file on first run:

[Settings]
SavePath=C:\Users\YourName\Downloads
OpenFolderAfterSave=false

Configuration Options

Setting	Default	Description
SavePath	Downloads folder	Directory where files will be saved
OpenFolderAfterSave	false	When true, opens Windows Explorer with the saved file selected

Customization: Edit the INI file to change settings

🔥 Pro Tip: Keyboard Shortcuts

Transform this into a super-powered clipboard tool by mapping it to a keyboard shortcut!

Option 1: AutoHotkey (Recommended)

1. Install AutoHotkey
2. Create a script file (e.g., clipboard-hotkey.ahk):

   ; AutoHotkey v2 syntax
   ; Ctrl+Alt+V to save clipboard
   ^!v::Run('powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -WindowStyle Hidden -File "C:\path\to\clip-to-file.ps1"')

3. Run the AutoHotkey script
4. Enjoy: Press Ctrl+Alt+V to instantly save clipboard content!

Convert to Standalone EXE (Optional)

Make your hotkey portable without requiring AutoHotkey installation:

1. Right-click your .ahk file
2. Select "Compile Script" (if you have AutoHotkey installed)
3. Or use Ahk2Exe compiler directly
4. Result: A standalone .exe file that runs on any Windows PC

The compiled EXE:

• Works without AutoHotkey installed
• Can be added to Windows startup folder
• Portable - share with colleagues or use on multiple PCs
• Small file size (~1-2 MB)

Option 2: Windows Shortcut

1. Right-click clip-to-file.ps1 → "Create shortcut"
2. Right-click the shortcut → "Properties"
3. Click in the "Shortcut key" field
4. Press your desired key combination (e.g., Ctrl+Alt+V)
5. Click "OK"

🛠️ Requirements

• Windows (PowerShell 5.1 or later)
• .NET Framework (included with Windows)

📝 Usage Examples

# Basic usage
.\clip-to-file.ps1

# Copy an image, then run
.\clip-to-file.ps1
# Output: Image saved to: C:\Users\You\Downloads\20250118_143025.jpg

# Copy some text, then run
.\clip-to-file.ps1
# Output: Text saved to: C:\Users\You\Downloads\20250118_143025.txt

🔧 Troubleshooting

"Execution Policy" Error

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

"Cannot create save directory" Error

• Check that the configured save path exists and you have write permissions
• The script will attempt to create the directory if it doesn't exist

"Clipboard is empty" Error

• Ensure you have content copied to your clipboard before running the script
• Only images and text content are supported

Error Messages Stay Visible

• Error messages windows are not automatically closed
• This ensures you can read error messages when running from shortcuts or double-clicking

🎯 Perfect For

• Screenshots: Instantly save screenshots with organized naming
• Code Snippets: Quickly save copied code to timestamped files
• Research: Save copied text and images during web browsing
• Documentation: Organize clipboard content for later reference

📄 License

Free to use, modify, and distribute. No attribution required.

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Made for productivity enthusiasts 🚀