microsoft / microsoft/terminal

WSL: Pasting text from a clipboard manager doesn't insert text at the console's cursor

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Area-Interaction Issue-Question Product-Conhost
Dominant language
C++
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Description

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.17763.134]


I'm using Ubuntu WSL and the default ubuntu.exe terminal. It's been configured so that CTRL+Shift+C/V allow for copy / pasting, which by itself is working.

However, I use Ditto which is an open source clipboard manager which allows you to write to and access multiple clipboard items. It can be found at https://ditto-cp.sourceforge.io/.

Expected outcome
  • Store multiple items in the Ditto clipboard by using the clipboard naturally.
  • Trigger the Ditto menu to pick an item using Ditto's registered key binding of CTRL + ALT + V.
  • Select the desired clipboard item from Ditto's menu.
  • See the clipboard item output at my cursor inside of the Ubuntu terminal so I can press enter to execute the command (or do whatever I want with the text that was inserted).
Actual outcome
  • Store multiple items in the Ditto clipboard by using the clipboard naturally.
  • Trigger the Ditto menu to pick an item using Ditto's registered key binding of CTRL + ALT + V.
  • Select the desired clipboard item from Ditto's menu.
  • See nothing in the Ubuntu terminal because the item gets absorbed by ubuntu.exe, and occasionally see ^V instead of the desired text depending on how I select the item (mouse click or pressing Enter).

I've tried other terminals like ConEmu and Hyper, and in those cases Ditto works. Ditto also works just fine with every other application (browser, IRC client, code editor, etc.). It's only failing with ubuntu.exe and related terminals.

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by reproducing the Ditto shortcut flow in ubuntu.exe under WSL and compare it with the working ConEmu and Hyper behavior. Trace how the console handles the clipboard manager's selected text and confirm completion when the chosen item appears at the Ubuntu console cursor without producing nothing or ^V.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
cpp, linux
Domain
cli, operating-systems
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
42/100

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