How To Copy And Paste

The ability to copy and paste text from one document or program to another is a basic part of computer usage but it eludes many beginners. For PC/Windos users the process is quite easy and can be learned in just seconds.

Copy: Using your mouse, place your cursor (or mouse pointer) at the beginning (upper left) of the text you wish to copy. Hold down the left mouse button while draging the cursor to the end (lower right) of the text you wish to copy. This will highlight the text. Release the left mouse button. Place the cursor over the highlighted text and press and release (click) the right mouse button. An options menu will appear. Select 'copy' from this menu. This copies the highlighted text to your computer's 'clipboard', a place in the computer memory used to store small amounts of text or an image.

Paste: Place the cursor in the spot where you want the copied text to be placed. This could be in the same document or in another program entirely. Right click your mouse again, and select 'paste' from the menu. Your copied text will appear starting at the cursor.

To cut, rather than copy, the text follow the same instructions above but selet 'cut' from the right-click menu instead of 'copy'. Copying leaves the original text intact. Cutting removes the original text.

There are keyboard shortcuts for many mouse activities. These are usually accomplished by holding down the CTRL (Control) key and tapping another key. Here are some examples:

Highlight: Press 'CTRL' + 'a' - this will highlight all text in the current document.

Copy: Highlight an area and then press 'CTRL' + 'c' (For Mac users, it is 'Apple' + 'C').

Cut: Hightlight an area and then press 'CTRL' + 'x'.

Paste: Click your mouse where you want to paste the text and then press 'CTRL' + 'v' (For Mac users 'Apple' + 'S').

The ability to copy, or cut, and paste text is found in most programs that work with text, ie: word processors, HTML editors, etc. Sometimes you will find the ability to do these basic tasks with the mouse has been disabled. It is still quickly achieved, in most instances, through the use of the keyboard shortcuts outlined above. Most programs also have their own menu selections for this purpose. These are usually found in the 'Edit' menu at the top of the program window.

Mastering copy and paste will give you a great deal of control and flexibility with your computer and its programs.