PlainTextClipboard
Instantly convert formatted text to plain text on your Windows clipboard
Overview
PlainTextClipboard is a very simple program that takes any rich (formatted) text it finds on the clipboard and replaces it with plain (unformatted) text.
This is useful for those situations where you want to paste text and have it formatted like the text where you are pasting instead of keeping the original formatting.
Some applications provide an alternative paste command that lets you treat any pasted text as unformatted. For example, the Thunderbird mail client provides a Paste Without Formatting menu command. Microsoft Word provides a Paste Special menu command that brings up a list of options, one of which is to treat the pasted text as Unformatted Text. However, even when using applications that do provide such commands, it is almost always quicker to just invoke PlainTextClipboard to convert the text and then use the normal paste command, especially if you use the CTRL+ALT+T keyboard shortcut that is set up when PlainTextClipboard is installed.
Key Features
One-Click Conversion
Instantly converts formatted text to plain text without any dialogs or confirmations.
Keyboard Shortcut
Quick access via CTRL+ALT+T keyboard shortcut, faster than any paste-special menu.
No User Interface
Works silently in the background with no dialogs to slow you down.
Desktop Icon
Optionally run by clicking the desktop icon for quick access when needed.
Universal Compatibility
Works with any Windows application that uses the clipboard for text.
Lightweight & Fast
Tiny utility that uses minimal system resources and runs instantly.
How It Works
No User Interface by Design
When you run PlainTextClipboard, there is no user interface. It simply converts any formatted text on the clipboard to unformatted text each time it is run. You may see a black command window flash up and disappear when you run PlainTextClipboard - this is normal behavior.
Other than that, there is nothing to indicate that PlainTextClipboard has done its task. This is intentional, since it is designed to be a tool to speed up a common operation. If it were to show a message box to say what it had done, this would require an extra key press or mouse click to dismiss the dialog, which would slow down the operation.
Copy
Copy formatted text from anywhere (web, Word, email, etc.)
Convert
Press CTRL+ALT+T to strip formatting
Paste
Use normal paste (CTRL+V) to insert plain text
Ways to Run PlainTextClipboard
Keyboard Shortcut (Recommended)
The easiest way to run PlainTextClipboard is to hold down the CTRL and ALT keys, and press T. This keyboard shortcut is automatically set up when PlainTextClipboard is installed.
Desktop Icon
An alternative way to run PlainTextClipboard is to simply click on the PlainTextClipboard icon which is automatically placed on your desktop when it is installed.
Start Menu
Finally, PlainTextClipboard can always be run by selecting the Windows Start menu, then All Programs, and then locating the menu command to run PlainTextClipboard (by default this is in the Plain Text Clipboard folder).
Perfect For
Document Editing
Copy text from websites or PDFs into Word documents without messy formatting
Email Composition
Paste content into emails without bringing unwanted fonts and colors
Code & Technical Writing
Clean up code snippets or technical content from various sources
Note Taking
Capture web content into note-taking apps with consistent formatting