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| Chapter 20 |

# 20. java.awt.datatransfer Reference

Contents:
Clipboard
ClipboardOwner
DataFlavor
StringSelection
Transferable
UnsupportedFlavorException

# Clipboard

## Name

Clipboard

##

## Description

The `Clipboard` class is a repository for a `Transferable` object and can be used for cut, copy, and paste operations. The system clipboard can be accessed by calling `Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getSystemClipboard()`. You can use this technique if you are interested in exchanging data between your application and other applications ( Java or non-Java) running on the system. In addition, `Clipboard` can be instantiated directly, if "private" clipboards are needed.

## Class Definition

    public class java.awt.datatransfer.Clipboard
       extends java.lang.Object {
      // Variables
      protected Transferable contents;
      protected ClipboardOwner owner;
      // Constructors
      public Clipboard (String name);
      // Instance Methods
      public synchronized Transferable getContents (Object requestor);
      public String getName();
      public synchronized void setContents (Transferable contents, ClipboardOwner owner);
    }

## Variables

### contents

#### protected Transferable contents

The object that the `Clipboard` contains, i.e., the object that has been cut or copied.

### owner

#### protected ClipboardOwner owner

The object that owns the `contents`. When something else is placed on the clipboard, owner is notified via lostOwnership().

## Constructors

### Clipboard

#### public Clipboard (String name)

Parameters

  name

    The name for this `Clipboard`.

Description

  Constructs a `Clipboard` object with the given `name`.

## Instance Methods

### getContents

#### public synchronized Transferable getContents (Object requestor)

Parameters

  requestor

    The object asking for the contents.

Returns

  An object that implements the `Transferable` interface.

Description

  Returns the current contents of the `Clipboard`. You could use this method to paste data from the clipboard into your application.

### getName

#### public String getName()

Returns

  `Clipboard`'s name.

Description

  Returns the name used when this clipboard was constructed. `Toolkit.getSystemClipboard()` returns a `Clipboard` named "System".

### setContents

#### public synchronized void setContents (Transferable contents, ClipboardOwner owner)

Parameters

  contents

    New contents.

  owner

    Owner of the new contents.

Description

  Changes the contents of the `Clipboard`. You could use this method to cut or copy data from your application to the clipboard.

## See Also

`ClipboardOwner`, `Toolkit`, `Transferable`

Window |  | ClipboardOwner