# Shortcut key combo to paste text?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 28, 2002, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortcut-key-combo-to-paste-text/145413 "2002-12-28T23:09:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gummo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5daacb/32.png) [@gummo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gummo)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortcut-key-combo-to-paste-text/145413/1 "2002-12-28T23:09:21Z")
I’m wondering if there is any way, preferably without 3rd party software, to set up a hot key combination to paste a block of text in Windows (XP). Such as, Ctrl-Alt-M to paste my mailing address into whatever field my cursor may be in. I know that some apps, such as Word allow for this type of thing with macros, but can it be done throughout windows? I thought maybe a batch file of some type, since any shortcut can have a hot key combination assigned to it, but I couldn’t see how to make this work. Thanks in advance for any help on this. Chris ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortcut-key-combo-to-paste-text/145413/2 "2002-12-28T23:12:19Z")
Shift + Insert will paste text ---
**Author:** ![gummo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5daacb/32.png) [@gummo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gummo)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortcut-key-combo-to-paste-text/145413/3 "2002-12-28T23:13:54Z")
Actually, I want to paste specific text or block of text. Not whatever is in the clipboard. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortcut-key-combo-to-paste-text/145413/4 "2002-12-28T23:14:59Z")
Never mind, I see in looking at your question more throughly that’s not what you’re asking. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortcut-key-combo-to-paste-text/145413/5 "2002-12-28T23:21:21Z")
This might be of interest [Keyboard Express](http://www.keyboardexpress.com/pressrel.htm) > [@](#): > > Kaysville, UT - June 12, 2002 - Insight Software Solutions has released Keyboard Express 3.0, a robust Windows keyboard macro utility that saves time and reduces errors by automating the computer tasks that you do over and over. > > A macro is a program that lets you record keystrokes and other commands. Later, with a single keystroke, you can play back this string of activities at a much faster speed, eliminating the wasted time and the risk of error that usually accompany the performance of repetitive tasks. > > Keyboard Express lets you configure over 700 hot keys to trigger your macros. Run macros to enter text, launch programs, enter date and time stamps, and much more. Macros can also be scheduled to run at Windows startup, hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, and more. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortcut-key-combo-to-paste-text/145413/6 "2002-12-28T23:24:43Z")
Windows 3.1 used to have a macro recorder for that kind of thing. I think that was gone in later versions though ---
**Author:** ![zia\_nova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/bc79bd/32.png) [@zia\_nova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zia_nova)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortcut-key-combo-to-paste-text/145413/7 "2002-12-28T23:44:48Z")
ctrl+c will copy highlighted text ctrl+v will paste said text computers not being one of my major understandings I don’t know if this is any help to you. I tried at least. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortcut-key-combo-to-paste-text/145413/8 "2002-12-29T00:12:32Z")
In any Windows application, Ctrl + C will ‘copy’ any textual content that has been highlighted, or otherwise selected or demarcated. Ctrl + V will then ‘paste’ this same selected content into any other Windows app that has a suitable field or frame or cursor insertion point. So you can type your mailing address anywhere (even in Notebook), then select it and Ctrl + C, and you’re ready to Ctrl + V it into as many fields as you want. ---
**Author:** ![gummo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5daacb/32.png) [@gummo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gummo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortcut-key-combo-to-paste-text/145413/9 "2002-12-29T00:15:35Z")
I guess I need to clarify. I want a hot key combo that will always be my address. And another that will always be my email. etc… I don’t want the contents of the clipboard to play any role in this functionality. I use the clipboard all day. And the contents of it are constantly changing. I want a permanent text block to be, lets say ‘insertable’ instead of pastable, via hotkey combination. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortcut-key-combo-to-paste-text/145413/10 "2002-12-29T01:23:20Z")
It may be possible to do it through hot-key combinations, but one thing that occurs to me is to place the half dozen things you want to be able to paste as “scraps” on your desktop – highlight, click, and drag them from the appropriate source. Then pull in the “scrap” into your document, spreadsheet, etc. as needed. I’ll warrant there’s an easier way I don’t know, however. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortcut-key-combo-to-paste-text/145413/11 "2002-12-29T01:53:44Z")
I don’t think you can do it without 3rd party software. QuicKeys is worth the investment, though. ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortcut-key-combo-to-paste-text/145413/12 "2002-12-29T04:12:47Z")
You need a macros utility. ---
**Author:** ![Snetho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@Snetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snetho)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortcut-key-combo-to-paste-text/145413/13 "2002-12-29T16:11:45Z")
You could accomplish this (task) a couple of ways…you were right in that you could use something like a batch job. Read a little about Windows Script Host [http://www.devguru.com/Technologies/wsh/quickref/wsh\_intro.html](http://www.devguru.com/Technologies/wsh/quickref/wsh_intro.html) You can simply create a script that accepts parameters for whatever you want to do (write addresses, names etc). I think you can pass the parameters in the command line and save that as a shortcut, then map a hotkey combo to that shortcut…if not, you can definitely create a separate script for each task and create shortcuts for those. Depending on how much work you want to put into it, you could have a list of names (or whatever) in a text file that is read by the script, or you could hard code the info into the script itself. You can write to a text field with SendKeys method: [http://www.devguru.com/Technologies/wsh/quickref/wshshell\_SendKeys.html](http://www.devguru.com/Technologies/wsh/quickref/wshshell_SendKeys.html) ---
**Author:** ![gummo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5daacb/32.png) [@gummo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gummo)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortcut-key-combo-to-paste-text/145413/14 "2002-12-30T01:36:25Z")
That’s it. That works perfectly. I knew there had to be some way to do it natively. Thanks!!