The Old New Thing

Practical development throughout the evolution of Windows.

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Concluding thoughts on our deep dive into Windows clipboard text conversion
Dec 18, 2025
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Concluding thoughts on our deep dive into Windows clipboard text conversion

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

Stick to Unicode and you'll be fine.

Deducing the consequences of Windows clipboard text formats on UTF-8
Dec 17, 2025
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Deducing the consequences of Windows clipboard text formats on UTF-8

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

Working out the implications.

Why is the Windows clipboard taking the scenic route when converting from <CODE>CF_<WBR>TEXT</CODE> to <CODE>CF_<WBR>OEM­TEXT</CODE>?
Dec 16, 2025
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Why is the Windows clipboard taking the scenic route when converting from CF_TEXT to CF_OEM­TEXT?

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

Something is forcing it down an alternate path.

Misunderstanding what the Cricket Celebration Bowl is
Dec 15, 2025
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Misunderstanding what the Cricket Celebration Bowl is

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

Apparently, not a bowl of crickets.

The Windows clipboard automatic text conversion algorithm is path-dependent
Dec 15, 2025
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The Windows clipboard automatic text conversion algorithm is path-dependent

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

When the journey is not half of the fun.

Resolving an ambiguity in the Windows clipboard automated text conversion table
Dec 12, 2025
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Resolving an ambiguity in the Windows clipboard automated text conversion table

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

Who goes first?

Studying the various locale mismatch scenarios in Windows clipboard text format synthesis
Dec 11, 2025
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Studying the various locale mismatch scenarios in Windows clipboard text format synthesis

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

If they don't match, then the 8-bit strings are basically broken already.

How does Windows synthesize the <CODE>CF_<WBR>LOCALE</CODE> clipboard format?
Dec 10, 2025
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How does Windows synthesize the CF_LOCALE clipboard format?

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

Getting it from a place that might have been obvious in the past, but maybe not today.

How does Windows synthesize <CODE>CF_<WBR>UNICODE­TEXT</CODE> from <CODE>CF_<WBR>TEXT</CODE> and vice versa?
Dec 9, 2025
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How does Windows synthesize CF_UNICODE­TEXT from CF_TEXT and vice versa?

Raymond Chen
Raymond Chen

Let's ask the locale.