select multiple lines so that I can paste selected text below selection and run an obsidian command on the pasted text.

[ksdavidc]

Probably easy, I just don't know how. I want to be able to select some text and then:

Basically I want to paste a selection below itself and then modify it. Specifically, something like:

1. copy the selected (multiline) text.
2. paste this text BELOW the selected text (in new paragraphs)
3. then select this (multiline) text
4. then run an obsidian command on this text.

I have made progress on doing 2,3, and 4. For example, I have tried just creating a macro that pastes, selecting the current line, and then runs the command. This works on single line text, but not on multiline text, which is what I need.

The transition between 1 and 2 (i.e. copying, then moving to end of selection, adding paragraphs, and then running 2) is also something I would like to be able to do.

Does anyone know how to do this? Is this possible?

[chhoumann]

Apologies this went unanswered for so long.

You're right that the built-in editor commands (Select active line, Copy, Paste) are line-scoped, so they can't extend to a multiline selection. A small user script in a Macro closes the gap: it duplicates the current selection below itself, re-selects the copy, and runs whatever command you point it at.

Save this as a user script in your vault, e.g. scripts/duplicate-and-run.js:

module.exports = async (params) => {
	const { app, obsidian } = params;
	const view = app.workspace.getActiveViewOfType(obsidian.MarkdownView);
	const editor = view?.editor ?? app.workspace.activeEditor?.editor;
	if (!editor || !editor.somethingSelected()) {
		new obsidian.Notice("Select some text first.");
		return;
	}
	const selection = editor.getSelection();
	const to = editor.getCursor("to");

	// Insert a blank line, then the duplicated block, right after the selection.
	editor.replaceRange("\n\n" + selection, to);

	// Re-select the duplicate (it starts two lines below where the selection ended).
	const start = { line: to.line + 2, ch: 0 };
	const selLines = selection.split("\n");
	const end =
		selLines.length === 1
			? { line: start.line, ch: selection.length }
			: {
					line: start.line + selLines.length - 1,
					ch: selLines[selLines.length - 1].length,
			  };
	editor.setSelection(start, end);

	// Run whatever command you want on the re-selected block:
	app.commands.executeCommandById("editor:toggle-bold");
};

Then create a Macro choice, add this script as its command, and toggle the Macro's own command on (the lightning bolt) so you can bind it to a hotkey.

To target a different command, swap the id in the last line. To find a command's id, open the developer console (Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+I), type app.commands.commands, and look through the keys - the id is the object key (e.g. editor:toggle-bold, editor:toggle-blockquote).

Selecting Line A + Line B and running the macro left the original untouched and dropped a copy right below it with the command applied - the re-selection lands exactly on the duplicated block, so the command only affects the copy. Works best when you select whole lines.

[ksdavidc]

Thank for that. I am sad to say I have forgotten what I was originally trying to do but it may come to me as it sounds like something I would need to do. I'll let you know if it works...