Clipboard Management using pbcopy on Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a popular Linux operating system known for its ease of use and powerful features. One useful tool for managing your clipboard is pbcopy, a command that makes copying and pasting text in the terminal very easy. However, pbcopy is not available by default on Ubuntu. This guide will show you, step by step, how to install and use pbcopy on Ubuntu. Even if you are a beginner, you will find these instructions simple and easy to follow.

Installing pbcopy

1. Open the Terminal: You can open the terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard.
2. Update Your Package List: Before installing new software, it’s a good idea to update your package list to make sure you get the latest version. Type the following command and press Enter:

   sudo apt update
   

   You might be asked to enter your password. Type it and press Enter.

3. Install xclip: pbcopy is part of a tool called xclip on Ubuntu. To install xclip, type the following command and press Enter:

   sudo apt install xclip
   

   This command will download and install the xclip tool on your system.

Using pbcopy

1. Copying Text to Clipboard: Now that xclip is installed, you can use it to copy text. To copy text, use the following command:

   echo "Your text here" | xclip -selection clipboard
   

   Replace “Your text here” with the text you want to copy.

2. Pasting Text from Clipboard: To paste the copied text, you can use the following command:

   xclip -selection clipboard -o
   

   This will output the copied text in the terminal.

3. Using pbcopy and pbpaste Aliases: For convenience, you can create aliases for pbcopy and pbpaste:
   • Open your .bashrc file with a text editor:

     nano ~/.bashrc
     

   • Add the following lines at the end of the file:

     alias pbcopy='xclip -selection clipboard'
     alias pbpaste='xclip -selection clipboard -o'
     

   • Save and close the file by pressing Ctrl+X, then Y, and then Enter.
   • Reload your .bashrc file:

     source ~/.bashrc
     

4. Using the Aliases: Now you can use pbcopy and pbpaste just like on macOS. For example:

   echo "Hello, World!" | pbcopy
   pbpaste
   

Conclusion

Installing and using pbcopy on Ubuntu is a straightforward process that can greatly enhance your productivity when working with text in the terminal. By following these simple steps, you can easily copy and paste text using pbcopy and pbpaste commands. This guide has provided you with all the necessary instructions to get started, making your clipboard management tasks much easier on Ubuntu. Enjoy your new tool and happy copying!