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Chat => Tech Chat => Topic started by: Weaver on May 05, 2021, 06:07:55 AM

Title: ‘Paste’
Post by: Weaver on May 05, 2021, 06:07:55 AM
I’m wondering about the term ‘paste’ as in ‘cut/copy/paste’. I first saw this when I saw the original model Mac at work. I’m wondering if Apple invented the term or whether it was already in use in the 1970s by Xerox from whom Apple stole everything of course, or whether perhaps other companies were already using it? Does anyone know?

I wonder why it wasn’t just ‘insert’? Perhaps that would be ambiguous though? As in ‘enter insert-mode’. Seems to me that it was from some archaic picture of cutting out bits of paper and sticking them in elsewhere - bizarre choice.
Title: Re: ‘Paste’
Post by: roseway on May 05, 2021, 06:51:00 AM
In the early days of computers it seemed very sensible to use terms that people were familiar with from conventional activities. Cut and paste is exactly what was done in the preparation of documents for printing, so I don't think the choice of these terms was bizarre at all. 'Copy' had to be invented to complete the trio, but all three terms are very descriptive.
Title: Re: ‘Paste’
Post by: Weaver on May 05, 2021, 08:12:11 AM
Old point, it only seemed bizarre to me because I had never stuck bits of paper together so there was no recall of such an activity. Insert would have been immediately familiar. Also, as you pointed out, ‘Copy’ is bizarre because there’s no such paper action.

Do you recall any other software using the term Paste in the 1970s?
Title: Re: ‘Paste’
Post by: tubaman on May 05, 2021, 09:05:59 AM
Old point, it only seemed bizarre to me because I had never stuck bits of paper together so there was no recall of such an activity. ...

You never made collages as a child - you had a deprived upbringing!  ;D
Title: Re: ‘Paste’
Post by: Floydoid on May 05, 2021, 01:08:23 PM
Yep they just derive from terms we use in the physical world... and on a side note I believe that the key combo ctrl+X was chosen for cut as 'X' represents a pair of scissors.

https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/c/cut.htm
Title: Re: ‘Paste’
Post by: Weaver on May 08, 2021, 07:05:55 AM
I perhaps made a collage at primary school. Didn’t cut and paste with text ever though.
Title: Re: ‘Paste’
Post by: roseway on May 08, 2021, 07:22:27 AM
It was standard practice in print shops into the 1980s.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cut,_copy,_and_paste
Title: Re: ‘Paste’
Post by: Weaver on May 08, 2021, 12:19:33 PM
Well done for finding that excellent article. I had an inkling that it might have come from printing or text layout industries, since many technical terms to do with fonts have come from that source.
Title: Re: ‘Paste’
Post by: jelv on May 16, 2021, 10:23:52 AM
It will have been something pioneered by Xerox PARC who were the originators of WIMPs.
Title: Re: ‘Paste’
Post by: Weaver on May 16, 2021, 07:34:10 PM
I thought so as well.