## Selections

Selections — Functions for handling inter-process communication via selections

## Synopsis

    #include <gtk/gtk.h>

                        GtkTargetEntry;
                        GtkTargetList;
                        GtkTargetPair;
    GtkTargetList*      gtk_target_list_new                 (const GtkTargetEntry *targets,
                                                             guint ntargets);
    GtkTargetList*      gtk_target_list_ref                 (GtkTargetList *list);
    void                gtk_target_list_unref               (GtkTargetList *list);
    void                gtk_target_list_add                 (GtkTargetList *list,
                                                             GdkAtom target,
                                                             guint flags,
                                                             guint info);
    void                gtk_target_list_add_table           (GtkTargetList *list,
                                                             const GtkTargetEntry *targets,
                                                             guint ntargets);
    void                gtk_target_list_add_text_targets    (GtkTargetList *list,
                                                             guint info);
    void                gtk_target_list_add_image_targets   (GtkTargetList *list,
                                                             guint info,
                                                             gboolean writable);
    void                gtk_target_list_add_uri_targets     (GtkTargetList *list,
                                                             guint info);
    void                gtk_target_list_add_rich_text_targets
                                                            (GtkTargetList *list,
                                                             guint info,
                                                             gboolean deserializable,
                                                             GtkTextBuffer *buffer);
    void                gtk_target_list_remove              (GtkTargetList *list,
                                                             GdkAtom target);
    gboolean            gtk_target_list_find                (GtkTargetList *list,
                                                             GdkAtom target,
                                                             guint *info);
    void                gtk_target_table_free               (GtkTargetEntry *targets,
                                                             gint n_targets);
    GtkTargetEntry*     gtk_target_table_new_from_list      (GtkTargetList *list,
                                                             gint *n_targets);
    gboolean            gtk_selection_owner_set             (GtkWidget *widget,
                                                             GdkAtom selection,
                                                             guint32 time_);
    gboolean            gtk_selection_owner_set_for_display (GdkDisplay *display,
                                                             GtkWidget *widget,
                                                             GdkAtom selection,
                                                             guint32 time_);
    void                gtk_selection_add_target            (GtkWidget *widget,
                                                             GdkAtom selection,
                                                             GdkAtom target,
                                                             guint info);
    void                gtk_selection_add_targets           (GtkWidget *widget,
                                                             GdkAtom selection,
                                                             const GtkTargetEntry *targets,
                                                             guint ntargets);
    void                gtk_selection_clear_targets         (GtkWidget *widget,
                                                             GdkAtom selection);
    gboolean            gtk_selection_convert               (GtkWidget *widget,
                                                             GdkAtom selection,
                                                             GdkAtom target,
                                                             guint32 time_);
    void                gtk_selection_data_set              (GtkSelectionData *selection_data,
                                                             GdkAtom type,
                                                             gint format,
                                                             const guchar *data,
                                                             gint length);
    gboolean            gtk_selection_data_set_text         (GtkSelectionData *selection_data,
                                                             const gchar *str,
                                                             gint len);
    guchar*             gtk_selection_data_get_text         (GtkSelectionData *selection_data);
    gboolean            gtk_selection_data_set_pixbuf       (GtkSelectionData *selection_data,
                                                             GdkPixbuf *pixbuf);
    GdkPixbuf*          gtk_selection_data_get_pixbuf       (GtkSelectionData *selection_data);
    gboolean            gtk_selection_data_set_uris         (GtkSelectionData *selection_data,
                                                             gchar **uris);
    gchar**             gtk_selection_data_get_uris         (GtkSelectionData *selection_data);
    gboolean            gtk_selection_data_get_targets      (GtkSelectionData *selection_data,
                                                             GdkAtom **targets,
                                                             gint *n_atoms);
    gboolean            gtk_selection_data_targets_include_image
                                                            (GtkSelectionData *selection_data,
                                                             gboolean writable);
    gboolean            gtk_selection_data_targets_include_text
                                                            (GtkSelectionData *selection_data);
    gboolean            gtk_selection_data_targets_include_uri
                                                            (GtkSelectionData *selection_data);
    gboolean            gtk_selection_data_targets_include_rich_text
                                                            (GtkSelectionData *selection_data,
                                                             GtkTextBuffer *buffer);
    gboolean            gtk_targets_include_image           (GdkAtom *targets,
                                                             gint n_targets,
                                                             gboolean writable);
    gboolean            gtk_targets_include_text            (GdkAtom *targets,
                                                             gint n_targets);
    gboolean            gtk_targets_include_uri             (GdkAtom *targets,
                                                             gint n_targets);
    gboolean            gtk_targets_include_rich_text       (GdkAtom *targets,
                                                             gint n_targets,
                                                             GtkTextBuffer *buffer);
    void                gtk_selection_remove_all            (GtkWidget *widget);
    gboolean            gtk_selection_clear                 (GtkWidget *widget,
                                                             GdkEventSelection *event);
    GtkSelectionData*   gtk_selection_data_copy             (GtkSelectionData *data);
    void                gtk_selection_data_free             (GtkSelectionData *data);

## Description

The selection mechanism provides the basis for different types of communication between processes. In particular, drag and drop and GtkClipboard work via selections. You will very seldom or never need to use most of the functions in this section directly; GtkClipboard provides a nicer interface to the same functionality.

Some of the datatypes defined this section are used in the GtkClipboard and drag-and-drop API's as well. The GtkTargetEntry structure and GtkTargetList objects represent lists of data types that are supported when sending or receiving data. The GtkSelectionData object is used to store a chunk of data along with the data type and other associated information.

## Details

### GtkTargetEntry

    typedef struct {
      gchar *target;
      guint  flags;
      guint  info;
    } GtkTargetEntry;

A GtkTargetEntry structure represents a single type of data than can be supplied for by a widget for a selection or for supplied or received during drag-and-drop. It contains a string representing the drag type, a flags field (used only for drag and drop - see GtkTargetFlags), and an application assigned integer ID. The integer ID will later be passed as a signal parameter for signals like "selection_get". It allows the application to identify the target type without extensive string compares.

### GtkTargetList

    typedef struct {
      GList *list;
      guint ref_count;
    } GtkTargetList;

A GtkTargetList structure is a reference counted list of GtkTargetPair. It is used to represent the same information as a table of GtkTargetEntry, but in an efficient form. This structure should be treated as opaque.

### GtkTargetPair

    typedef struct {
      GdkAtom   target;
      guint     flags;
      guint     info;
    } GtkTargetPair;

Internally used structure in the drag-and-drop and selection handling code.

### gtk_target_list_new ()

    GtkTargetList*      gtk_target_list_new                 (const GtkTargetEntry *targets,
                                                             guint ntargets);

Creates a new GtkTargetList from an array of GtkTargetEntry.

`targets` : | Pointer to an array of GtkTargetEntry
`ntargets` : | number of entries in `targets`.
Returns : | the new GtkTargetList.

### gtk_target_list_ref ()

    GtkTargetList*      gtk_target_list_ref                 (GtkTargetList *list);

Increases the reference count of a GtkTargetList by one.

`list` : | a GtkTargetList
Returns : | the passed in GtkTargetList.

### gtk_target_list_unref ()

    void                gtk_target_list_unref               (GtkTargetList *list);

Decreases the reference count of a GtkTargetList by one. If the resulting reference count is zero, frees the list.

`list` : | a GtkTargetList

### gtk_target_list_add ()

    void                gtk_target_list_add                 (GtkTargetList *list,
                                                             GdkAtom target,
                                                             guint flags,
                                                             guint info);

Appends another target to a GtkTargetList.

`list` : | a GtkTargetList
`target` : | the interned atom representing the target
`flags` : | the flags for this target
`info` : | an ID that will be passed back to the application

### gtk_target_list_add_table ()

    void                gtk_target_list_add_table           (GtkTargetList *list,
                                                             const GtkTargetEntry *targets,
                                                             guint ntargets);

Prepends a table of GtkTargetEntry to a target list.

`list` : | a GtkTargetList
`targets` : | the table of GtkTargetEntry
`ntargets` : | number of targets in the table

### gtk_target_list_add_text_targets ()

    void                gtk_target_list_add_text_targets    (GtkTargetList *list,
                                                             guint info);

Appends the text targets supported by GtkSelection to the target list. All targets are added with the same `info`.

`list` : | a GtkTargetList
`info` : | an ID that will be passed back to the application

Since 2.6

### gtk_target_list_add_image_targets ()

    void                gtk_target_list_add_image_targets   (GtkTargetList *list,
                                                             guint info,
                                                             gboolean writable);

Appends the image targets supported by GtkSelection to the target list. All targets are added with the same `info`.

`list` : | a GtkTargetList
`info` : | an ID that will be passed back to the application
`writable` : | whether to add only targets for which GTK+ knows how to convert a pixbuf into the format

Since 2.6

### gtk_target_list_add_uri_targets ()

    void                gtk_target_list_add_uri_targets     (GtkTargetList *list,
                                                             guint info);

Appends the URI targets supported by GtkSelection to the target list. All targets are added with the same `info`.

`list` : | a GtkTargetList
`info` : | an ID that will be passed back to the application

Since 2.6

### gtk_target_list_add_rich_text_targets ()

    void                gtk_target_list_add_rich_text_targets
                                                            (GtkTargetList *list,
                                                             guint info,
                                                             gboolean deserializable,
                                                             GtkTextBuffer *buffer);

Appends the rich text targets registered with `gtk_text_buffer_register_serialize_format()` or `gtk_text_buffer_register_deserialize_format()` to the target list. All targets are added with the same `info`.

`list` : | a GtkTargetList
`info` : | an ID that will be passed back to the application
`deserializable` : | if `TRUE`, then deserializable rich text formats will be added, serializable formats otherwise.
`buffer` : | a GtkTextBuffer.

Since 2.10

### gtk_target_list_remove ()

    void                gtk_target_list_remove              (GtkTargetList *list,
                                                             GdkAtom target);

Removes a target from a target list.

`list` : | a GtkTargetList
`target` : | the interned atom representing the target

### gtk_target_list_find ()

    gboolean            gtk_target_list_find                (GtkTargetList *list,
                                                             GdkAtom target,
                                                             guint *info);

Looks up a given target in a GtkTargetList.

`list` : | a GtkTargetList
`target` : | an interned atom representing the target to search for
`info` : | a pointer to the location to store application info for target
Returns : | `TRUE` if the target was found, otherwise `FALSE`

### gtk_target_table_free ()

    void                gtk_target_table_free               (GtkTargetEntry *targets,
                                                             gint n_targets);

This function frees a target table as returned by `gtk_target_table_new_from_list()`

`targets` : | a GtkTargetEntry array
`n_targets` : | the number of entries in the array

Since 2.10

### gtk_target_table_new_from_list ()

    GtkTargetEntry*     gtk_target_table_new_from_list      (GtkTargetList *list,
                                                             gint *n_targets);

This function creates an GtkTargetEntry array that contains the same targets as the passed `list`. The returned table is newly allocated and should be freed using `gtk_target_table_free()` when no longer needed.

`list` : | a GtkTargetList
`n_targets` : | return location for the number ot targets in the table
Returns : | the new table.

Since 2.10

### gtk_selection_owner_set ()

    gboolean            gtk_selection_owner_set             (GtkWidget *widget,
                                                             GdkAtom selection,
                                                             guint32 time_);

Claims ownership of a given selection for a particular widget, or, if `widget` is `NULL`, release ownership of the selection.

`widget` : | a GtkWidget, or `NULL`.
`selection` : | an interned atom representing the selection to claim
`time_` : | timestamp with which to claim the selection
Returns : | `TRUE` if the operation succeeded

### gtk_selection_owner_set_for_display ()

    gboolean            gtk_selection_owner_set_for_display (GdkDisplay *display,
                                                             GtkWidget *widget,
                                                             GdkAtom selection,
                                                             guint32 time_);

Claim ownership of a given selection for a particular widget, or, if `widget` is `NULL`, release ownership of the selection.

`display` : | the Gdkdisplay where the selection is set
`widget` : | new selection owner (a GdkWidget), or `NULL`.
`selection` : | an interned atom representing the selection to claim.
`time_` : | timestamp with which to claim the selection
Returns : | TRUE if the operation succeeded

Since 2.2

### gtk_selection_add_target ()

    void                gtk_selection_add_target            (GtkWidget *widget,
                                                             GdkAtom selection,
                                                             GdkAtom target,
                                                             guint info);

Appends a specified target to the list of supported targets for a given widget and selection.

`widget` : | a GtkTarget
`selection` : | the selection
`target` : | target to add.
`info` : | A unsigned integer which will be passed back to the application.

### gtk_selection_add_targets ()

    void                gtk_selection_add_targets           (GtkWidget *widget,
                                                             GdkAtom selection,
                                                             const GtkTargetEntry *targets,
                                                             guint ntargets);

Prepends a table of targets to the list of supported targets for a given widget and selection.

`widget` : | a GtkWidget
`selection` : | the selection
`targets` : | a table of targets to add
`ntargets` : | number of entries in `targets`

### gtk_selection_clear_targets ()

    void                gtk_selection_clear_targets         (GtkWidget *widget,
                                                             GdkAtom selection);

Remove all targets registered for the given selection for the widget.

`widget` : | a GtkWidget
`selection` : | an atom representing a selection

### gtk_selection_convert ()

    gboolean            gtk_selection_convert               (GtkWidget *widget,
                                                             GdkAtom selection,
                                                             GdkAtom target,
                                                             guint32 time_);

Requests the contents of a selection. When received, a "selection_received" signal will be generated.

`widget` : | The widget which acts as requestor
`selection` : | Which selection to get
`target` : | Form of information desired (e.g., STRING)
`time_` : | Time of request (usually of triggering event) In emergency, you could use GDK_CURRENT_TIME
Returns : | `TRUE` if requested succeeded. `FALSE` if we could not process request. (e.g., there was already a request in process for this widget).

### gtk_selection_data_set ()

    void                gtk_selection_data_set              (GtkSelectionData *selection_data,
                                                             GdkAtom type,
                                                             gint format,
                                                             const guchar *data,
                                                             gint length);

Stores new data into a GtkSelectionData object. Should only be called from a selection handler callback. Zero-terminates the stored data.

`selection_data` : | a pointer to a GtkSelectionData structure.
`type` : | the type of selection data
`format` : | format (number of bits in a unit)
`data` : | pointer to the data (will be copied)
`length` : | length of the data

### gtk_selection_data_set_text ()

    gboolean            gtk_selection_data_set_text         (GtkSelectionData *selection_data,
                                                             const gchar *str,
                                                             gint len);

Sets the contents of the selection from a UTF-8 encoded string. The string is converted to the form determined by `selection_data->target`.

`selection_data` : | a GtkSelectionData
`str` : | a UTF-8 string
`len` : | the length of `str`, or -1 if `str` is nul-terminated.
Returns : | `TRUE` if the selection was successfully set, otherwise `FALSE`.

### gtk_selection_data_get_text ()

    guchar*             gtk_selection_data_get_text         (GtkSelectionData *selection_data);

Gets the contents of the selection data as a UTF-8 string.

`selection_data` : | a GtkSelectionData
Returns : | if the selection data contained a recognized text type and it could be converted to UTF-8, a newly allocated string containing the converted text, otherwise `NULL`. If the result is non-`NULL` it must be freed with `g_free()`.

### gtk_selection_data_set_pixbuf ()

    gboolean            gtk_selection_data_set_pixbuf       (GtkSelectionData *selection_data,
                                                             GdkPixbuf *pixbuf);

Sets the contents of the selection from a GdkPixbuf The pixbuf is converted to the form determined by `selection_data->target`.

`selection_data` : | a GtkSelectionData
`pixbuf` : | a GdkPixbuf
Returns : | `TRUE` if the selection was successfully set, otherwise `FALSE`.

Since 2.6

### gtk_selection_data_get_pixbuf ()

    GdkPixbuf*          gtk_selection_data_get_pixbuf       (GtkSelectionData *selection_data);

Gets the contents of the selection data as a GdkPixbuf.

`selection_data` : | a GtkSelectionData
Returns : | if the selection data contained a recognized image type and it could be converted to a GdkPixbuf, a newly allocated pixbuf is returned, otherwise `NULL`. If the result is non-`NULL` it must be freed with `g_object_unref()`.

Since 2.6

### gtk_selection_data_set_uris ()

    gboolean            gtk_selection_data_set_uris         (GtkSelectionData *selection_data,
                                                             gchar **uris);

Sets the contents of the selection from a list of URIs. The string is converted to the form determined by `selection_data->target`.

`selection_data` : | a GtkSelectionData
`uris` : | a `NULL`-terminated array of strings hilding URIs
Returns : | `TRUE` if the selection was successfully set, otherwise `FALSE`.

Since 2.6

### gtk_selection_data_get_uris ()

    gchar**             gtk_selection_data_get_uris         (GtkSelectionData *selection_data);

Gets the contents of the selection data as array of URIs.

`selection_data` : | a GtkSelectionData
Returns : | if the selection data contains a list of URIs, a newly allocated `NULL`-terminated string array containing the URIs, otherwise `NULL`. If the result is non-`NULL` it must be freed with `g_strfreev()`.

Since 2.6

### gtk_selection_data_get_targets ()

    gboolean            gtk_selection_data_get_targets      (GtkSelectionData *selection_data,
                                                             GdkAtom **targets,
                                                             gint *n_atoms);

Gets the contents of `selection_data` as an array of targets. This can be used to interpret the results of getting the standard TARGETS target that is always supplied for any selection.

`selection_data` : | a GtkSelectionData object
`targets` : | location to store an array of targets. The result stored here must be freed with `g_free()`.
`n_atoms` : | location to store number of items in `targets`.
Returns : | `TRUE` if `selection_data` contains a valid array of targets, otherwise `FALSE`.

### gtk_selection_data_targets_include_image ()

    gboolean            gtk_selection_data_targets_include_image
                                                            (GtkSelectionData *selection_data,
                                                             gboolean writable);

Given a GtkSelectionData object holding a list of targets, determines if any of the targets in `targets` can be used to provide a GdkPixbuf.

`selection_data` : | a GtkSelectionData object
`writable` : | whether to accept only targets for which GTK+ knows how to convert a pixbuf into the format
Returns : | `TRUE` if `selection_data` holds a list of targets, and a suitable target for images is included, otherwise `FALSE`.

Since 2.6

### gtk_selection_data_targets_include_text ()

    gboolean            gtk_selection_data_targets_include_text
                                                            (GtkSelectionData *selection_data);

Given a GtkSelectionData object holding a list of targets, determines if any of the targets in `targets` can be used to provide text.

`selection_data` : | a GtkSelectionData object
Returns : | `TRUE` if `selection_data` holds a list of targets, and a suitable target for text is included, otherwise `FALSE`.

### gtk_selection_data_targets_include_uri ()

    gboolean            gtk_selection_data_targets_include_uri
                                                            (GtkSelectionData *selection_data);

Given a GtkSelectionData object holding a list of targets, determines if any of the targets in `targets` can be used to provide a list or URIs.

`selection_data` : | a GtkSelectionData object
Returns : | `TRUE` if `selection_data` holds a list of targets, and a suitable target for text is included, otherwise `FALSE`.

Since 2.10

### gtk_selection_data_targets_include_rich_text ()

    gboolean            gtk_selection_data_targets_include_rich_text
                                                            (GtkSelectionData *selection_data,
                                                             GtkTextBuffer *buffer);

Given a GtkSelectionData object holding a list of targets, determines if any of the targets in `targets` can be used to provide rich text.

`selection_data` : | a GtkSelectionData object
`buffer` : | a GtkTextBuffer
Returns : | `TRUE` if `selection_data` holds a list of targets, and a suitable target for rich text is included, otherwise `FALSE`.

Since 2.10

### gtk_targets_include_image ()

    gboolean            gtk_targets_include_image           (GdkAtom *targets,
                                                             gint n_targets,
                                                             gboolean writable);

Determines if any of the targets in `targets` can be used to provide a GdkPixbuf.

`targets` : | an array of GdkAtoms
`n_targets` : | the length of `targets`
`writable` : | whether to accept only targets for which GTK+ knows how to convert a pixbuf into the format
Returns : | `TRUE` if `targets` include a suitable target for images, otherwise `FALSE`.

Since 2.10

### gtk_targets_include_text ()

    gboolean            gtk_targets_include_text            (GdkAtom *targets,
                                                             gint n_targets);

Determines if any of the targets in `targets` can be used to provide text.

`targets` : | an array of GdkAtoms
`n_targets` : | the length of `targets`
Returns : | `TRUE` if `targets` include a suitable target for text, otherwise `FALSE`.

Since 2.10

### gtk_targets_include_uri ()

    gboolean            gtk_targets_include_uri             (GdkAtom *targets,
                                                             gint n_targets);

Determines if any of the targets in `targets` can be used to provide an uri list.

`targets` : | an array of GdkAtoms
`n_targets` : | the length of `targets`
Returns : | `TRUE` if `targets` include a suitable target for uri lists, otherwise `FALSE`.

Since 2.10

### gtk_targets_include_rich_text ()

    gboolean            gtk_targets_include_rich_text       (GdkAtom *targets,
                                                             gint n_targets,
                                                             GtkTextBuffer *buffer);

Determines if any of the targets in `targets` can be used to provide rich text.

`targets` : | an array of GdkAtoms
`n_targets` : | the length of `targets`
`buffer` : | a GtkTextBuffer
Returns : | `TRUE` if `targets` include a suitable target for rich text, otherwise `FALSE`.

Since 2.10

### gtk_selection_remove_all ()

    void                gtk_selection_remove_all            (GtkWidget *widget);

Removes all handlers and unsets ownership of all selections for a widget. Called when widget is being destroyed. This function will not generally be called by applications.

`widget` : | a GtkWidget

### gtk_selection_clear ()

    gboolean            gtk_selection_clear                 (GtkWidget *widget,
                                                             GdkEventSelection *event);

### Warning

`gtk_selection_clear` has been deprecated since version 2.4 and should not be used in newly-written code. Instead of calling this function, chain up from your selection_clear_event handler. Calling this function from any other context is illegal.

The default handler for the GtkWidget::selection_clear_event signal.

`widget` : | a GtkWidget
`event` : | the event
Returns : | `TRUE` if the event was handled, otherwise false

Since 2.2

### gtk_selection_data_copy ()

    GtkSelectionData*   gtk_selection_data_copy             (GtkSelectionData *data);

Makes a copy of a GtkSelectionData structure and its data.

`data` : | a pointer to a GtkSelectionData structure.
Returns : | a pointer to a copy of `data`.

### gtk_selection_data_free ()

    void                gtk_selection_data_free             (GtkSelectionData *data);

Frees a GtkSelectionData structure returned from `gtk_selection_data_copy()`.

`data` : | a pointer to a GtkSelectionData structure.

## See Also

GtkWidget | Much of the operation of selections happens via signals for GtkWidget. In particular, if you are using the functions in this section, you may need to pay attention to ::selection_get, ::selection_received, and :selection_clear_event signals.