How to create .NET "System.Windows.Clipboard"?

Question

I have followed the instructions for creating a blank .Net form and it works.

Needs["NETLink`"]
InstallNET[];
myform = NETNew["System.Windows.Forms.Form"];
ShowNETWindow[myform];
(* Don't forget to release it later *)
ReleaseNETObject[myform];

However, I cannot get a reference to "System.Windows.Clipboard".

clipboard = NETNew["System.Windows.Clipboard"]

NET::netexcptn: A .NET exception occurred: System.TypeLoadException: Type System.Windows.Clipboard not found. at Wolfram.NETLink.TypeLoader.GetType(String typeName, String assemblyName, Boolean throwOnError) at Wolfram.NETLink.Internal.CallPacketHandler.loadType1(KernelLinkImpl ml).

What am I missing?

Answer 1

First, we must load the PresentationCore assembly to make the type System.Windows.Clipboard available:

Needs["NETLink`"]
InstallNET[];

LoadNETAssembly["PresentationCore"];

Second, System.Windows.Clipboard is a static class so it cannot be instantiated using NETNew. We must import its static members instead:

LoadNETType["System.Windows.Clipboard", AllowShortContext -> False];

Now, we can access the clipboard through static members such as GetText:

CopyToClipboard["hi there"]

System`Windows`Clipboard`GetText[]
(* "hi there" *)