How to "Cut & Paste"
One of the handiest of all computer "tricks" is what is called "Cut & Paste".
Basically it is a convenient way to move stuff around in a document and
even to other documents and applications on your computer using the "clipboard".
Let's start with the simplest uses...
Firstly, the terminology.
Cut -- taken from the old days of printing and publishing
(before computers) where one would cut out a picture or a word with scissors
from a piece of paper. In regards to computing, cut means to remove it
from your document. (keystroke: ctrl X; in Windows 9x: right mouse button,
choose cut)
Copy -- just like it sounds, to make a copy (keystroke:
ctrl c; in Windows 9x: right mouse button, choose copy).
Paste -- taking that picture or word you have cut
out and literally pasting onto your document. In other words, adding
an item to your work. (keystroke: ctrl v; in Windows 9x right mouse
button, choose paste)
Blocking -- the act of highlighting an area. This is
done by placing your mouse cursor on the item and clicking the left mouse
button. In the case of a word or sentence, you would place the cursor
at the beginning of what you wish to block and holding down the left
mouse button while you "drag" the cursor across the item to be blocked,
releasing the left mouse button when you have reached the end of the
area to be blocked. If successful, you'll see a "block" around the area
to be highlighted. Alternately, you may also block an item by using the
cursor, or arrow, keys -- instead of the mouse. Simply move the cursor
with the arrow keys to the beginning of what you wish to highlight, holding
down the "shift" key and moving the cursor with the arrow keys until
you reach the end of what you wish to block and releasing the "shift" key.
For many new users this is easier to control than using the mouse.
Clipboard -- The clipboard is an invisible "place" in
your computer where the last item that was "cut" or "copied" is stored,
ready for you to reuse it with the "paste" command. The bad news is that
it only holds one "cut" or "copy at a time. The good news is that you
can use this to move items from one application to another. Example:
copy contents of an email for inclusion in a letter or report written
using your word processor or even copy text from an Internet site and
paste it into a document.
Examples:
Here "your docu" is blocked.
Now it's cut out of the document.
Note: You could have chosen "copy" and left the text, and added
a copy elsewhere in the document, or even in another document.
So now we're ready to use this tool.
In the days before word processors, to write a letter required that one
either compose the complete document in one's head or to write a rough
draft and then write or type the document.
If you ever made a mistake, you would either use "white-out" or crumple
the paper and toss it in the garbage. Thank goodness that this is no
longer necessary. Instead, in a word processing environment, one simply
puts their thoughts down and then easily re-arranges them in an order
that one likes.
This is done by using "cut & paste".
Block the word or words you wish to "cut".
Now, move your mouse to the top of your computer screen where you find
the "Edit" pull down menu (this is located next to "File"). Click on "Edit".
From the pull down menu, choose (click on) "cut" and your highlighted
block is removed.
Where did the old text go? It was placed on the "clipboard".
The cut item remains "on the clipboard" until it is replaced by the next
item you cut.
This is kind of like an "undo" feature. If you change your mind and want
the blocked portion back or to use it in another place in your document,
just place the cursor where you want it, click on "Edit" and them choose "paste" and
the cut item is again placed in your document.
You can use this to copy as well!
You can use this same method to copy the blocked item, simply choose "Copy" from
the pull down menu instead of "Cut" and follow the same procedure to "paste" a
copy of the item elsewhere in your document.
You have no doubt noticed that "part C" has now been moved to the top.
Advanced tricks -- "Drag & Drop"
Now that you understand the basics of cut and paste, here are a few tricks
that make this even better. Instead of having to go through all those steps;
block item, click on "edit", then "cut" then moving cursor where you want
cut item placed, then clicking on "edit" again and then clicking on "paste" --
you could have used this great short cut. After you have blocked the item
to be moved, move the cursor back over the blocked area, press and hold
the left mouse button and "drag" the blocked area to its new position in
the document and release the left mouse button. This is called "Drag & Drop".
Advanced tricks -- "Drag & Drop" Copy
Here's a variation that is a great time saver. What if you wanted to copy
the blocked item and use that word or phrase again farther down in your
document. Block item as before, then using the same "Drag & Drop" procedure
as above, only this time, with your other hand, hold down the key
as you "Drag & Drop". You'll see that the original blocked item stays put
and that a new copy of it is where you dragged it to.
"Cut & Paste" and the Internet
Although you cannot "Cut & Paste" documents on the Internet, you can "copy" text
and pictures and save them on your computer. The easiest is pictures. If
you see a graphic on a web page that you like, simply place your cursor
on the graphic and click your right (not left) mouse button. A menu appears
and one of your choices is "Save image as". Left click on this and a screen
appears showing you where the graphic will be saved. If you do not like
the location, simply change the location to one you prefer. To "Copy" text,
requires a little more work. You would block the text as in a regular document.
Choose "Copy" from the pull down edit menu. Now you must have some place
to put this text. You need to open a text editor like Note Pad or your
word processor. "Paste" the text into the document you have opened with
your text editor.
©1999, 2002 George E. Marriott, Jr. All rights reserved.
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