How to quickly save what is currently shown in cmd.exe to a file

Question

I am asking if there is a quick way/command to save the current standard output from cmd.exe or powershell to a file.

For example, I have run a bunch of commands in cmd.exe which generating like hundreds of lines of standard output. Ideally, I am looking for a single command to do "select all" and save to a file automatically.

Note: I've read this. But I don't want to change my original commands, so ">" or ">>" redirection cannot be used in this scenario.

Thanks.

Answer 1

There may be a more efficient solution, but you can get the job done with a little help from AutoHotkey.

First, compile the following script:

ClipboardBackup := Clipboard
Clipboard =

Send, !{Space} ;Menu
Sleep, 100
Send, e ;Edit
Send, s ;Select All

Send, {Enter} ;Copy
ClipWait

FileAppend, %Clipboard%, *

Clipboard := ClipboardBackup

ExitApp

---

Place the .exe file in a %PATH% directory. I named mine savecmd.exe.

Now, you can effectively save the contents of the command prompt window by using the following syntax:

savecmd > file.txt

---

Demonstration:

Note: You can add more to the AutoHotkey script to clean up the output a bit, but it works!

Answer 2

Here's a more elegant solution, using PowerShell: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/ff687007.aspx

Start-Transcript [[-path] FilePath] [-force] [-noClobber] [-append] 

<your commands>

Stop-Transcript

<get content from FilePath>

Answer 3

Copy the contents of the cmd window and past it into Word, or other text editor. See Microsoft's documentation on how to copy text from a command prompt window.