3.1.1.2 File List
When a collection of files is copied to the system clipboard, accompanying metadata containing the list of files, called the "file list," is also placed onto the clipboard using a generic, operating system-defined format. This list contains information about each file on the clipboard, such as the file name, size, and access permissions. Applications can examine the file list to enumerate the list of files available on the system clipboard.
When a paste operation is initiated to obtain the contents of a file on the clipboard, the index of the file in the file list, along with a description of the file chunks required, is sent to the system clipboard. The system clipboard responds by returning the file contents data that was requested.
The usage of the file list is best illustrated with a practical example:
Assume that a user copies two files to the clipboard so that the associated file list on the clipboard appears as follows (notice that the exact location of the files is not specified in the file list):
temp\file1.txt (20 bytes)
temp\file2.txt (10 bytes)
Next, assume that the user decides to paste the first 15 bytes of file1.txt into a target application that can accept file data. In this case, the target application examines the file list on the clipboard and issues a request for the first 15 bytes of the file in the file list at Index 1 (the system clipboard MUST be contacted because the exact location of the file on the local file system is not necessarily advertised in the file list). The system clipboard responds with the appropriate data.<3>