Re: Copying text from emacs to another application using M-w

[Harry Putnam <reader@newsguy.com>]

Tim X <timx@nospam.dev.null> writes:

>> Tim do you mind posting how you do the other way round.
>>
>> I mean copy outside emacs. Paste inside emacs.
>> I keep getting really goofed up when I try that.  Seems to take
>> several attempts before the paste will happen.
>>
>> I probably have something set wrong somewhere.  But it seems like the
>> last copy/kill in emacs is what keeps sticking to clipboard or kill ring or
>> somewhere I don't want it.  So that when I press middle mouse or C-y
>> to paste into emacs... I get something from an earlier operation.
>>
>> I'd like to do this:
>>
>> 1. Mouse or keyboard (or C-a) select a region or `all'  (say in firefox)
>> 2. Middle mouse or C-y to paste that region into emacs.
>> done
>>
>
> That is essentially what I do. I just tested it with firefox. 
>
> 1. Started firefox
> 2. Using the mouse, highlighted the region of interest. 
> 3. Switched to emacs
> 4. click mouse 1 to position the cursor where I want the data to be
> pasted, theen hit the middle mouse button to paste it. 
>
> Most of the time, when back in emacs, I wouldn't use the mouse, C-y
> pastes the selection as well. 
>
> I don't have any special settings in my .emacs relating to this and I
> don't use CUA mode.  Currently running emacs 23 on Debian unstable.

Here is an example of the kind of thing that keeps aggravating me.

I've run a search with homemade grepping tool in an Xterm window
The search results are printing to screen and running off the viewing
area.

I scroll backup up the xterm buffer and find a file name I want to
open.

Highlight the filename (in xterm buffer) by dragging with left mouse.
In emacs I have done C-x C-f and have the command waiting at the
command prompt for a filename.

Now shift mouse from xterm to emacs window and C-y with emacs.

Whoops it pastes something from a different virtual desktop that was
the last thing copied in a separate instance of emacs running there.

Ok... try it all again: shift mouse back to xterm again left mouse
drag to highlight the filename. shift to emacs left click to bring
focus to command prompt in emacs .. C-y  to paste... whoops again
I get the same item from an earlier copy in a separate instance
of emacs.

Now a third attempt of the same procedure: shift mouse to xterm, left
drag to highlight filename ... shift mouse back to emacs and finally
on the third attempt C-y pastes what I copied from the xterm with
mouse.

Very aggravating... the earlier copy seems stuck to C-y or right click
for several attempts... and finally the copy/paste works.