INFO: Clipboard Memory Sharing in Windows

• Microsoft Win32 Software Development Kit (SDK)
• Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) versions 3.0, 3.1

SUMMARY

The following are questions and answers on the topic of Clipboard memory sharing:

Q. Does the Clipboard UNLOCK before freeing the handle when I tell it to
   SetClipboardData()?

A. Yes, the Clipboard UNLOCKs before freeing the handle when you
   SetClipboardData().

Q. Does the Clipboard actually copy my global storage to another
   block, or does it just retain the value of my handle for
   referencing my block?

A. The Clipboard is sharable; it retains the value of the handle.

Q. Does GetClipboardData() remove the data from the Clipboard, or
   does it allow me to reference the data without removing it from
   the Clipboard?

A. The data handle returned by GetClipboardData() is controlled by
   the Clipboard, not by the application. The application should
   copy the data immediately, instead of relying on the data handle
   for long-term use. The application should not free the data
   handle or leave it locked. To remove data from the Clipboard,
   call SetClipboardData(). 

Keywords          : kbClipboard kbNTOS kbGrpUser kbWinOS 
Version           : 
Platform          : 
Issue type        : kbinfo 

Last Reviewed: March 4, 1999