Clipboard Patch System

Edit Commands

Each command reads structured content from your clipboard and applies it to files.

batch primary

Apply multiple edit operations in one clipboard paste. This is the main entry point — everything goes through batch.

Format:

#-# file

# path/newfile.ext

#-# fold

# existing.ext

<<<

old lines

>>>

new lines

file write

Write an entire file (new or complete rewrite). Auto-backs up existing files before overwriting.

Format:

# path/filename.ext

full file content here...

fold edit

Replace a section of a file using old/new blocks. Matches by trimmed content, auto-shifts indentation.

Format:

# filename.ext

<<<

old line 1

old line 2

>>>

new line 1

new line 2

drop edit

Replace a single function by matching its signature. Prompts on mismatch: Replace, Append, or Skip.

Format:

# filename.ext

def process_data(df):

# new function body...

ins edit

Insert content at a specific line number, or append to end of file.

Format:

# filename.ext 42

content to insert...

# filename.ext end

content to append...

nix delete

Remove lines from a file by line range or anchor strings. No clipboard needed.

Usage:

PS> nix file.ts 10 25

PS> nix file.ts -StartAnchor "# START" -EndAnchor "# END"

run execute

Execute commands inline within a batch. Strips ! prefixes (Claude-style shell commands).

Format (inside batch):

#-# run

! pip install requests

! python -m pytest

probe execute

Execute clipboard as code. Auto-detects Python vs PowerShell. Output captured to clipboard for pasting back to AI.

Usage:

PS> probe # auto-detect

PS> probe python # force Python

PS> probe pwsh # force PowerShell

Inspection Commands

Read code and copy structured output to clipboard — for feeding context back to the AI.

snap read

Copy files or functions to clipboard, formatted for AI consumption.

PS> snap app.py

PS> snap FuncName utils.py

PS> snap file1.ts file2.ts

context read

Show lines around a pattern match or line number with configurable radius.

PS> context app.ts "handleClick":5

PS> context app.ts 200:10

outline read

Show the structural skeleton of a file — functions, classes, exports with line numbers.

PS> outline renderer.ts

renderer.ts (342 lines)

12: export function init() {

45: export function render() {

180: export class Canvas {

rev safety

Restore files from timestamped backups. Supports per-file, Nth revision, or time-based bulk restore.

PS> rev app.py # restore latest

PS> rev app.py ? # list backups

PS> rev "14:30" # bulk restore

Hotkeys

AutoHotkey v2 bindings for instant execution. No terminal typing needed.

Hotkey	Action	Details
`Win` + `Shift` + `Enter`	Execute clipboard	Auto-detects: batch (`#-#`), inspect (`snap`/`context`/`outline`), shell (`!`), or raw PowerShell
`Win` + `Shift` + `C`	Clipboard ↔ Sublime Text	Opens clipboard in Sublime with bidirectional sync — edits save back to clipboard
`Win` + `Shift` + `P`	Python probe	Run clipboard as Python script in the configured probe directory
`Win` + `Shift` + `D`	Set probe directory	Input dialog to set the working directory for probe runs
`Win` + `Shift` + `R`	Copy rules	Copy the AI rules template to clipboard for pasting into a chat session
`Win` + `Shift` + `U`	Open as URL	Opens clipboard as URL, auto-prepends https://, or falls back to Google search
`Win` + `Shift` + `B`	Browse to path	Opens clipboard path in Explorer — reveals files, opens folders
`Win` + `Shift` + `A`	Tile terminals	Arrange all Windows Terminal windows in a grid
`Win` + `Shift` + `/`	Toggle server	Show/hide the background PowerShell server window

Downloads

All files are portable — no hardcoded paths. See the setup guide below for installation.

📦

profile_clipboard_helpers.ps1

The core system — all edit commands (file, drop, fold, ins, nix, batch), inspection commands (snap, context, outline, peek), backup/restore (rev, diff), and syntax checking.

⬇ Download

⚡

clipboard_to_pwsh.ahk

AutoHotkey v2 hotkey script. Provides Win+Shift+Enter execution, clipboard-Sublime bridge, URL opener, path browser, and more.

⬇ Download

⚙

profile_hotkey_server.ps1

Persistent background PowerShell process that executes commands from AutoHotkey. Stays running with your full $PROFILE loaded.

⬇ Download

🚀

profile_hotkey_launcher.ps1

Launcher script that loads your PowerShell profile and starts the hotkey server. Called automatically by the AHK script.

⬇ Download

👁

clip_watcher.ps1

File watcher that syncs saves back to clipboard. Powers the Win+Shift+C bidirectional Sublime Text bridge.

⬇ Download

🔗

profile_set_shortcut.ps1

Dynamic shortcut system. Create persistent aliases with set name path that survive profile reloads.

⬇ Download

📜

rules_template.txt

AI rules template. Paste this into your AI chat to teach it the clipboard patch format. Customize paths for your environment.

⬇ Download

Setup Guide

Get everything running in about 5 minutes.

Prerequisites

Install these if you don't have them:

PowerShell 7+        https://aka.ms/powershell
AutoHotkey v2         https://www.autohotkey.com/
Sublime Text          https://www.sublimetext.com/  (optional, for clipboard bridge)

Create directory structure

Put the scripts where your PowerShell profile can find them:

$scripts = "$env:USERPROFILE\Scripts"
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "$scripts\profile"
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "$scripts\autohotkey"
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\pocket"
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\backups"

Place the files

Move downloaded files to their locations:

Scripts\profile\profile_clipboard_helpers.ps1
Scripts\profile\profile_set_shortcut.ps1
Scripts\autohotkey\clipboard_to_pwsh.ahk
Scripts\autohotkey\profile_hotkey_server.ps1
Scripts\autohotkey\profile_hotkey_launcher.ps1
Scripts\autohotkey\clip_watcher.ps1
pocket\rules_template.txt  (rename to rules.txt and customize)

Update your PowerShell profile

Add these lines to your $PROFILE:

$scripts = "$env:USERPROFILE\Scripts"

# Clipboard patch system
$ProfileScriptsRoot = Join-Path $scripts 'profile'
. (Join-Path $ProfileScriptsRoot 'profile_clipboard_helpers.ps1')
. (Join-Path $ProfileScriptsRoot 'profile_set_shortcut.ps1')

# Load dynamic shortcuts
$DynamicShortcutsFile = Join-Path $ProfileScriptsRoot 'profile_dynamic_shortcuts.ps1'
if (Test-Path $DynamicShortcutsFile) { . $DynamicShortcutsFile }

# Aliases
Set-Alias file  Write-FromClipboard       -Scope Global -Force
Set-Alias drop  Apply-ClipboardFunctionPatch -Scope Global -Force
Set-Alias fold  Apply-ClipboardFoldPatch   -Scope Global -Force
Set-Alias ins   Insert-ClipboardAtLine     -Scope Global -Force
Set-Alias nix   Remove-FileSection         -Scope Global -Force
Set-Alias batch Invoke-ClipboardBatch      -Scope Global -Force
Set-Alias probe Invoke-ClipboardProbe      -Scope Global -Force
if (Test-Path Alias:diff) { Remove-Item Alias:diff -Force }
Set-Alias diff  Compare-WithBackup         -Scope Global -Force
Set-Alias rev   Restore-LastBackup         -Scope Global -Force

Launch AutoHotkey

Double-click clipboard_to_pwsh.ahk to start the hotkey system. It will auto-launch the background PowerShell server. Add it to your startup folder if you want it on every boot.

$ahk = "$env:USERPROFILE\Scripts\autohotkey\clipboard_to_pwsh.ahk"
$startup = [Environment]::GetFolderPath("Startup")
Copy-Item $ahk $startup  # auto-start on login

Start coding with AI

Open any AI chat, paste your rules file (Win+Shift+R), and start coding. The AI will format edits as batch blocks that you can apply with Win+Shift+Enter.

Clipboard Patch System

How It Works

Edit Commands

Inspection Commands

Hotkeys

Live Demos

Downloads

Setup Guide

Prerequisites

Create directory structure

Place the files

Update your PowerShell profile

Launch AutoHotkey

Start coding with AI