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The following python script successfully copies a given string into the clipboard when run from Ubuntu shell:

import os
text = 'The text to be copied to the clipboard.'
os.system("echo -n {s} | xsel -b".format(s=text))

However, when I execute the script from Emacs as follows, it does not work:

(call-process-shell-command "clipboard.py &" nil 0)

What is special about the script run with call-process-shell-command and how do I work around the problem so my Python script would be able to use the clipboard?

EDIT: In addition, (shell-command-to-string "python clipboard.py") freezes.

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4
  • Why not execute the source buffer? Works for me.
    – Andreas Röhler
    May 14, 2018 at 17:10
  • @AndreasRöhler Do you mean like this: stackoverflow.com/a/25687205/2725810? First, I did not know about this option, so thank you! Second, the script is a server used by the commands that I implemented in ELisp. This server is supposed to run in the background without distracting the user. Can I achieve this with the approach that you are suggesting? Lastly, even if this works, I am curious what causes the problem described in the original question of mine.
    – AlwaysLearning
    May 14, 2018 at 20:40
  • Maybe try (call-process-shell-command "python clipboard.py &" nil 0)
    – Andreas Röhler
    May 15, 2018 at 6:47
  • @AndreasRöhler This does not make the clipboard work either. Note that my python script runs just fine. The only thing that's not working is clipboard.
    – AlwaysLearning
    May 16, 2018 at 5:11

1 Answer 1

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Using the -i option of xsel, which tells xsel to read standard input, fixes it. I do not know why it worked without this option outside of Emacs.

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2
  • Can you please elaborate? Say what that option does?
    – Drew
    May 16, 2018 at 14:20
  • @Drew Done as per the request.
    – AlwaysLearning
    May 16, 2018 at 18:17

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