Copying desktop objects in XP

[BobNY]

There have been occasions where I wanted to post the details of an error message posted on my desktop in a forum. I have been able to use the Print Screen Utility and then paste the object into MS Word; this then being pasted into the forum window. But, this process captures the entire screen. The object is then too difficult to read and there is superfluous information included.

I'm sure there is better way of doing this by directly copying the object and pasting it into a forum window. Any ideas on this?

Thanks in advance,
Bob

 

[Andyleates]

Bob, you need to hold down the alt key whilst pressing print screen - this will then only grab the active window.

Andy



Andy Leates MCSE CCNA MCP+I

 

[bcastner]

I just right-click an empty area of the Desktop, New, Text file.

double-click to open the new Text file.

Start, Run, eventvwr.msc

Highlight the entries with the left mouse button, right click to Copy.

Move the mouse over the open Text file on the task bar, and when it opens, right click and Paste.

When done, you can left click the contents of the Text file, right click and copy, and paste the contents in the Forum message.

 

[linney]

Depending on what sort of image you wish to display, often it is easy to paste any message window into a photo editor program and edit it down to size and relevance and post that as a jpg or gif file on your forum.

I can't remember how to show an image in this forum as there is no obvious way to attach a file. Maybe someone can help with that.

 

[bcastner]

A screenshot is a lousy way to try and post an error log entry. You can easily do it with cut and paste as descrbed above.

An image (no, not a smiley) is possible here only if you can link it from an available hyperlink site. You cannot upload the thing as part of your post.

It think that is too bad. It would be easier for some issues to have a screenshot, but for error logs it likely is better to keep it to pure .txt format as you likely need to show a series of error messages.

 

[linney]

Hey Bill, yes for text messages, copy and paste, but not all error messages are available for copy and paste. Sometimes only an image will suffice. I also vaguely remember a way was once mentioned of getting an image into this forum directly but I can't track it down. I remember seeing it done in the earlier posts by "debonairOne".

Even text messages in the Event Viewer you have to use the copy tab in the properties to copy it. Then you can paste it into a text file and edit it there.

 

[bcastner]

If you can covert the images to HTML you can paste them, but I think any other format requires an active hyperlink site.

(no line breaks)

or something like that in TGML.

 

[BobNY]

Please allow me to point out that the text in the error message CANNOT be highlighted. If it could, it would have made matters much easier. For some reason, the entire object needs to be chosen. Thus, it is an object that needs to be copied rather than exclusively the text. I guess I could print screen the desktop into a photoshop program. But, good grief, isn't there a way to capture only the object?

bcastner, thanks for your suggestions. Unfortunately, I can't get your method to work with objects.

 

[bcastner]

BobNY,

I see now the issue, I was just confusing things and myself.

You are absolutely right.

Now to find a workaround.