Note:  I received a message telling me PKZip was not on the market until 1989 which is absolutely right.  I made a typo and apologize if it caused any concern other than the alert fellow who pointed it out to me.

 

CLCL

 

In another Search-Blitz which I conduct with more than alarming frequency, I went out into CyberSpace to look for new Commercial, Shareware and Freeware programs.  After a serious look which spanned about four evenings and an afternoon I am here to report the results.  Although the title of this Blog is directed to CLCL, I have other findings, as well.  Be apprised that these findings and suggestions are not intended to say my opinions are any better (or worse) than the others, just a statement on what I have discovered over the years.

 

I first went looking at all the new zip compression programs, (these are programs such as, WinZip, WinRAR and so on.  Let hasten to add I have tried the two just mentioned along with ZipGenius, Zip7 and a few other little packages and did so some years back depending on their existence).  This I have done over the years by placing them on my home computers and work computers and giving them a very honorable and fair period of testing time.  No slacking when it comes to evaluating these offerings.  Sadly, or stupidly, I usually buy the program so I can use it without all the crippling effects prone to evaluation programs.  I did not, however, purchase WinRAR, I ran it out on the free trial and decided it was not intended for my use.

 

Way back in 1982 (a long time in computer-speak), many DOS programs came with PKZip attached, much like AOL and Adobe Acrobat Reader plagued programs for years.  I began using PKZip in 1982 to compress files on the then very limited hard drive space we had available, if any.  My first IBM-XT came with a whopping ten megabyte Seagate “Bigfoot” hard drive.  I upgraded all my computers to a twenty megabyte, then a forty megabyte before moving to the IBM-AT machines.  Yes, folks, your eyes are not deceiving you, that is megabytes.  I have been around these computers since the Eighth Day, or so it sometimes seems.

 

PKZip has survived and is my compression program of choice.  Of course, it opens compressed files, too.  It is a real workhorse and is very non-intrusive as is does it’s job well and continually.  PKZip has never been a problem on any of my computers.  It works and plays well with everything else which is more than I can say for a lot of  programs, zip and otherwise.  It is a tried and proven program with remarkable encryption abilities.  First choice in Zips for me.

 

You name the word processing program and chances are very good I have used it, tested it and for one reason or another, reverted to Microsoft Word.  I am using Word 2000 to write this effort.  I began with IBM’s Multi-Mate, switched to WordStar, forerunner of OpenOffice (or, links thereto), then on to PFS writer and over to Word Perfect.  I remained with Word Perfect until version 5.1 (?) when they took it to the Windows format and destroyed the whole damn thing.  In DOS it was absolutely great, but times change and Word perfect was unable to compete.

 

I switched to Microsoft Word version 5 and, although I have tested many since, I revert to Microsoft Word.  The reason is, Word does the job perfectly.  That is, it works for me.

 

Okay, we now arrive at CLCL, or, as a friend asked, “What in the Hell is CLCL?”  Well, it is the epitome of Windows Clipboard Extenders.  Not only does it capture everything you copy and paste, but it works as a superior screen capture program.  Best thing is it utilizes the default CTRL+C and the CTRL+V to copy and paste.  I have tried several other clipboard extension programs, ranging from expensive commercial to very poorly written Freeware and just about everything in between and swear by CLCL.

 

I first saw CLCL somewhere around 2002 in an earlier version.  It was good and as it has been updated it has become better to the point where it does remarkably well exceeding all the others in my opinion.  It does not write to the registry and keeps everything you copy in a nice compact location.

 

First thing most people ask other than, “What the Hell is CLCL”: is what does it do and do I need it?  At one time, I usually gave a caustic reply, like, “If you have to ask, you don’t need it!”  I have, however, mellowed over the years and reply, “Once you use it you will wonder how you ever got along without it?”

 

Windows default clipboard saves one copy to the clipboard.  When you copy something else, you lose the first copy and so it goes.  With a clipboard extender the copies are saved.  This is important to me because I used to write a lot and saving copies was a necessity.  Take as an example this offering.  I can “Select All” and click “Copy” and this entire text will be saved to CLCL even though it is being save to My Documents.  Little snippets can be saved, too.  One touch of the “Prt srn” button and you have saved the entire screen as a JPEG, or one of the other formats based on your preferences.

 

I have used Yankee Clipper Clipboard and I have found it will not, as in absolutely will not, return text in a readable condition.  With CLCL the text is perfect as though you are reading the original.  Same can be said for screen captured data.  With CLCL you can capture the screen as fast as you can hit the print screen button and it never falters. 

 

There are .dll’s which accompany CLCL and they can be a little testy to install.  If you decide to give it a try and encounter problems there are a few web sites which explain how it is done.  If you still have problems just post a comment here and I will post a complete and exact explanation of how it is done.  But, I am hesitant to go to that length without a request for the information.  I like to call CLCL, “A Spoiler” because it does just that, it spoils the user.

 

Post et. al.

 

Sunday 5 October, 2008 p.m.