How can I copy an array of arrays into clipboard using javascript

Question

I can copy a string into the clipboard using code below:

function copyText(text) {

  if (navigator.clipboard) { // default: modern asynchronous API
    return navigator.clipboard.writeText(text);
  } else if (window.clipboardData && window.clipboardData.setData) {     // for IE11
    window.clipboardData.setData('Text', text);
    return Promise.resolve();
  } else {
    // workaround: create dummy input
    const input = h('input', { type: 'text' });
    input.value = text;
    document.body.append(input);
    input.focus();
    input.select();
    document.execCommand('copy');
    input.remove();
    return Promise.resolve();
  }
}

The issue is I want to copy a representation of an array (actually an array of arrays).

So far when I give the function an array it just copy the elements and separate them with a semi colon!

How can I copy an array of arrays into clipboard using javascript?

Nate Levin · Accepted Answer · 2020-10-08T15:52:08.243

You can keep your function, just use JSON.stringify and JSON.parse.

const arr = [[1,2],[1,2]];
copyText(JSON.stringify(arr));

// then wherever you have them pasting
JSON.parse(pastedText);

Full Example:

function copyText(text) {
  if (navigator.clipboard) { // default: modern asynchronous API
    return navigator.clipboard.writeText(text);
  } else if (window.clipboardData && window.clipboardData.setData) {     // for IE11
    window.clipboardData.setData('Text', text);
    return Promise.resolve();
  } else {
    // workaround: create dummy input
    const input = h('input', { type: 'text' });
    input.value = text;
    document.body.append(input);
    input.focus();
    input.select();
    document.execCommand('copy');
    input.remove();
    return Promise.resolve();
  }
}



click.onclick = ()=>{
const arr = [[1,2],[1,2]];
copyText(JSON.stringify(arr));
}

<input placeholder="Paste Here!">
<button id="click">Click to copy!</button>

How can I copy an array of arrays into clipboard using javascript

1 Answers1

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