# hs.pasteboard.watcher

Watch for Pasteboard Changes. macOS doesn't offer any API for getting Pasteboard notifications, so this extension uses polling to check for Pasteboard changes at a chosen interval (defaults to 0.25).

# API Overview

Functions - API calls offered directly by the extension

interval

Constructors - API calls which return an object, typically one that offers API methods

Methods - API calls which can only be made on an object returned by a constructor

running
start
stop

# API Documentation

# Functions

# interval


Signature	`hs.pasteboard.watcher.interval([value]) -> number`
Type	Function
Description	Gets or sets the polling interval (i.e. the frequency the pasteboard watcher checks the pasteboard).
Parameters	value - an optional number to set the polling interval to.
Returns	The polling interval as a number.
Notes	This only affects new watchers, not existing/running ones. The default value is 0.25.
Examples	None
Source	extensions/pasteboard/libpasteboard_watcher.m line 249

# Constructors

# new


Signature	`hs.pasteboard.watcher.new(callbackFn[, name]) -> pasteboardWatcher`
Type	Constructor
Description	Creates and starts a new `hs.pasteboard.watcher` object for watching for Pasteboard changes.
Parameters	callbackFn - A function that will be called when the Pasteboard contents has changed. It should accept one parameter:
A string containing the pasteboard contents or `nil` if the contents is not a valid string. name - An optional string containing the name of the pasteboard. Defaults to the system pasteboard.
Returns	An `hs.pasteboard.watcher` object
Notes	Internally this extension uses a single `NSTimer` to check for changes to the pasteboard count every half a second. Example usage: `lua</li><li> generalPBWatcher = hs.pasteboard.watcher.new(function(v) print(string.format("General Pasteboard Contents: %s", v)) end)</li><li> specialPBWatcher = hs.pasteboard.watcher.new(function(v) print(string.format("Special Pasteboard Contents: %s", v)) end, "special")</li><li> hs.pasteboard.writeObjects("This is on the general pasteboard.")</li><li> hs.pasteboard.writeObjects("This is on the special pasteboard.", "special")`
Examples	None
Source	extensions/pasteboard/libpasteboard_watcher.m line 143

# Methods

# running


Signature	`hs.pasteboard.watcher:running() -> boolean`
Type	Method
Description	Returns a boolean indicating whether or not the Pasteboard Watcher is currently running.
Parameters	None
Returns	A boolean value indicating whether or not the timer is currently running.
Notes	None
Examples	None
Source	extensions/pasteboard/libpasteboard_watcher.m line 209

# start


Signature	`hs.pasteboard.watcher:start() -> timer`
Type	Method
Description	Starts an `hs.pasteboard.watcher` object
Parameters	None
Returns	The `hs.pasteboard.watcher` object
Notes	None
Examples	None
Source	extensions/pasteboard/libpasteboard_watcher.m line 187

# stop


Signature	`hs.pasteboard.watcher:stop() -> timer`
Type	Method
Description	Stops an `hs.pasteboard.watcher` object
Parameters	None
Returns	The `hs.pasteboard.watcher` object
Notes	None
Examples	None
Source	extensions/pasteboard/libpasteboard_watcher.m line 228