76

Sometimes I send pieces of code using Skype. Very often the text is messed up with smileys, and some brackets show up doubled.

Can I somehow send text that will not be transformed? Something like <pre> in HTML.

EDIT ( 19 march 2015 ): In Win 8.1 Skype version 7.2.59.103 (for desktop) both nesono's answer and Nishanth C's answer are working.

5
  • 1
    You could disable smileys and suggest your recipient do the same. It's not as nice as what you're asking for though.
    – Kyle Smith
    May 18, 2011 at 14:48
  • 1
    For reference, here is the official list of Skype formatting escapes, under Formatting your instant messages. Jul 15, 2016 at 18:03
  • 1
    {code}print(":)");{code} Jun 22, 2017 at 1:25
  • note, the opening {code} has to be at the beginning of a line Jun 22, 2017 at 1:28
  • @IstvánZachar Skype formatting seems to have changed radically in the new Skype included as part of Windows 10 (I'm on Skype 12.7.597.0). I have asked a new question at Do not insert emoticons into sent messages in Skype version 12
    – Silverfish
    Nov 6, 2017 at 16:29

4 Answers 4

73

In fact you can keep Skype from parsing the snippet for smileys. Just use two exclamation marks as the first line (rest empty) and paste your snippet afterwards.

Example:

!! call_function(0); :) (smoke)

Apart from that, you can use decorations to post *bold*, _italic_ or ~strikethrough~ text.

9
  • Skype for Windows (6.20.64.104) support that
    – KindDragon
    Sep 25, 2014 at 13:58
  • 3
    You can also append "!! " before the text to leave the text raw. I don't like the extra line made from !! Nov 1, 2014 at 3:51
  • 1
    You don't have to make a new line after !!, a blank space suffices. E.g.: !! function foo() {}; Will output "function foo() {};", without the exclamation marks and the space. No new line. (Skype for OS X, 7.14 301)
    – EriF89
    Nov 24, 2015 at 14:09
  • Does not work on Skype Linux 4.3.0.37. May 25, 2017 at 13:03
  • 3
    This has stopped working since a few months back in Skype for linux. {code} and ``` works though May 19, 2021 at 10:45
75

New skype has a feature to add code. Try this

{code}
call_function(0);
:)
(smoke)
{code}
10
  • 9
    Could you please qualify new with a concrete version number? Dec 7, 2014 at 12:41
  • 2
    It works here. Skype 7.1.0.105 Mar 3, 2015 at 16:46
  • This do not work with web skype at this time Feb 5, 2016 at 18:39
  • 1
    Does not work on Skype Linux 4.3.0.37. May 25, 2017 at 13:02
  • 1
    Working on Skype version 8.63.0.76 (Mac) Aug 6, 2020 at 11:53
32

Markdown-like syntax also works. For example:

``` 
var s = "Block highlighting"; 
alert(s); 
```
5
  • 3
    I would say this is the best (fastest) way. {code} {code} and <pre> </pre> are longer to type and <pre> tags are stripped when the message is edited. Feb 16, 2017 at 15:36
  • 2
    Currently this does not work
    – JaKu
    Jun 29, 2017 at 9:22
  • 1
    Does not work with Skype for Linux Beta 5.4.0.1 and xml Sep 4, 2017 at 13:49
  • 1
    This does not work in Skype for Business 16.0.4549.1000 32-bit on Windows 7 Pro SP1 (6.1.7601.65536)
    – ShooShoSha
    Sep 18, 2017 at 18:24
  • 1
    Does work for me in Skype 8.58.0.93 in Windows 10 LTSB 2016 Mar 25, 2020 at 14:13
3

To get around this kind of problem in other chat systems, people often post the code fragment on a web-based snippet site like pastebin.com and then just send a link to the code via chat.

2
  • 7
    I know, like pastie.org, jsfiddle.net, codetidy.com, tinypaste.com, codepad.org, pastesite.com. This is not the point of the question.
    – Bakudan
    May 10, 2011 at 5:04
  • 1
    Sorry, based on question "Can I somehow send text that will not be transformed?" I thought you were looking for a workaround.
    – rakslice
    Feb 27, 2016 at 0:24

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