How can I load an image directly into the Windows clipboard from the command line?

Question

My dad asked me how he could script the pasting/inclusion of images in various applications. I'm sure I could script out some quick <img src=... HTML but I believe he's also looking to do this in Windows GUI applications like Word or Outlook.

So, how could I script a process with the following inputs and outputs:

1. load_image_into_clipboard_script.cmd sample_file.jpg
2. Clipboard now contains the aforementioned image file, just as if I'd e.g. opened it in Paint and done a Select All -> Copy.

I noticed there's a clip.exe utility with Vista/Win2003 and up; perhaps that will be a useful intermediary?

Answer 1

To copy an image into the clipboard, use in the script the tool NirCmd with the copyimage action :

nircmd.exe clipboard copyimage "image-file"

However, to cause any application whatsoever to paste the clipboard image is much harder.