14 DAY TRIAL // Truth be told, no matter how useful the Copy/Paste function is it will still become tiresome at one point, and no matter how cool it seems at the beginning the more you use it the more limitations you discover. The most annoying of them all is the fact that Clipboard cannot retain more than one item in its memory. If you copy a text string and then do the exact same operation on another, only the last string will be available for pasting.
Now I do not want to complain but it would be nice if the Clipboard were able to store more than one item. From time to time I find myself into situations that would be resolved much easier if there was room in the Clipboard for more than one "copy".
So, starting from this need (quite thorny at some moments) I began the search for an easy to use application that would complete Copy/Paste's functionality. Luckily, the Internet in its greatness stores myriads of applications and I was not the only one in need for such a utility.
Clipboard Help and Spell seemed apt for the job and it is also an absolute freeware. It may not have too much of an interface but it definitely does a good job at managing the different text snippets you copy to the Clipboard. The great thing is that it can store as many text strings as needed and then still be able to find the one you need.
For making the application less intrusive it'll run in system tray and all text strings it stores can be accessed by using user assigned keyboard shortcuts. The moment you install the app it'll begin its memorizing process and the signal for when a snippet has been added is a cute bubbly sound. Of course if this turns irritating and disturbing you can turn it off from Options menu.
Main application window is split into three main sections. The side panel in the left contains all groups and folders, both built-in by default and user created ones. There is one thing you should know, though: built-in groups cannot be deleted even if the user has no use for them, so customization in this area is a bit limited. But you can very well do with built-in ones. They cover sections like Favorites and Recycle Bin as well as Clipboard. This way you can organize the snippets the way you like it.
The upper window in the right contains all the titles available in a group and the section beneath it displays the content. Should it happen for a great deal of text strings to be added to the software there is an easy way to find what you want by using Quick Filter option. Suffice to type in the search box a word contained by the snippet and the application will display the results as you type.
As you walk through the menu you will notice that some of the options are not yet implemented, like Statistics or importing and exporting. Although such functions are not available this will not diminish the value of the software too much.
Options menu allows full configuration of the application. The rich choices available permit the user defining the set of hotkeys for easier access to the menus (capture/view/spell, quick paste, quick note, character count and spell), configuring the way the application starts up, setting the copy delay, customizing the way the date appears, tuning different pop-up menus (time and date presets, the way Quick Paste, Favorites and Text Formatting Presets menus are displayed on the desktop), display options, backup configuration (frequency, directory for storing the files) etc.
The application can be configured to enterprise a certain action the moment grid cells are double clicked. The alternatives in this case are copying to clipboard, to active window or do absolutely nothing. You have to know that the application is able to track the active window and even makes a log file of all application instances that are active at one point or another.
Clipboard Help+Spell also comes with complete text formatting skills for the user to employ. These are not at all limited and although some users may find configuration settings a bit tough, it is all very simple. All gaps can be automatically trimmed and you can eliminate certain characters at the beginning of the text line leaving the string completely clean of extra characters. The options for this feature go as far as finding and replacing words, change the case of the letters, or add prefixes and suffixes to lines or empty spaces and even to entire text.
Each change can be monitored in the preview window at the bottom of all the settings as you make them. Unfortunately, there are no font or size changing options available, but these are not really important.
Additional features include merging two or more text snippets and sending them to the printer.
The application does a great job at storing all text-related Clipboard activities to a safe place on your computer. Users can backup the notes and organize them the way they like it with little to no effort. For more comfortable use of the application there are user configurable hotkeys for different actions.
The Good
Clipboard Help and Spell is absolutely free and extremely useful when multiple copy and paste activities are necessary.
Quick Filter function allows you to quickly find the desired text string or snippet. You can set the software for automatic backup jobs and define the time after which items in New group should be moved to Old one.
The Bad
Options window may be a bit baffling at the beginning but with a little patience, you can learn all the secrets.
There are options yet to be implemented and Help menu is in serious need of an update.
The Truth
Clipboard Help and Spell may require a bit of time for understanding all available options and features but in the end, it'll prove a real asset. It is rich in options and features and highly configurable.
The application lacks a finishing touch but it works great even so.
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
