getData Method
Retrieves the data in the specified format from the clipboard through the dataTransfer or clipboardData objects.
Syntax
sRetrieveData = object.getData(sDataFormat)
Parameters
sDataFormat Required. String that specifies one of the following data format values:
Text Retrieves data formatted as text. URL Retrieves data formatted as a URL.
Return Value
String. Returns the data in the format retrieved from clipboard through the dataTransfer or clipboardData object. Depending on the information contained in setData, this variable can retrieve a path to an image, text, or an anchor URL.
Remarks
The getData method enforces cross-frame security and allows data transfers within the same domain only. To the user this means that dragging a selection between different security protocols, such as HTTP and HTTPS, will fail. In addition, dragging a selection between two instances of the browser with different security levels, where the first instance is set to medium and the second is set to high, will fail. Finally, dragging a selection into the browser from another drag-enabled application, such as Microsoft® Word, also will fail.
To use the getData method to retrieve data from the clipboard within the oncopy or oncut event, specify window.event.returnValue=false within the event handler script.
Example
The following examples use the setData and getData methods of the dataTransfer object to drop text in a new location and create a desktop shortcut.
Sample Code
This example uses the getData method to drag text and drop it in a new location.
<HEAD> <SCRIPT> function InitiateDrag(){ event.dataTransfer.setData(oSource.innerText); } function FinishDrag(){ window.event.returnValue=false; oTarget.innerText = event.dataTransfer.getData("Text"); } function OverDrag(){ window.event.returnValue=false; } </SCRIPT> </HEAD> <BODY> <B ID="oSource" ondragstart="InitiateDrag()"> drag this text</B> <SPAN ID="oTarget" ondragover="OverDrag()" ondragenter="FinishDrag()""> drop text here</SPAN> </BODY>
This feature requires Internet Explorer 5 or later. Click the icon below to install the latest version. Then reload this page to view the sample.This example uses the getData method to create a desktop shortcut using a drag-and-drop operation.
<HEAD> <SCRIPT> function InitiateDrag(){ event.dataTransfer.setData("URL", oSource.href); } function FinishDrag(){ oTarget.innerText = event.dataTransfer.getData("URL"); } </SCRIPT> </HEAD> <BODY> <A ID=oSource HREF="about:Example_Complete" onclick="return(false)" ondragstart="InitiateDrag()">Test Anchor</A> <SPAN ID=oTarget ondrop="FinishDrag()">Drop Here</SPAN> </BODY>
Applies To
[ Object Name ] Platform Version Win16: Win32: Mac: Unix: WinCE: Version data is listed when the mouse hovers over a link, or the link has focus. clipboardData, dataTransfer
See Also
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