Do you still remember the tip that I shared with you about copying text from Windows error messages? It is very useful but unfortunately this only works on dialog boxes that is created by Windows operating system. If the window message is created by a third party software, we cannot copy the text in the dialog box by simple pressing CTRL+C key. Here is an example error message created by Windows Live Messenger.

I tried pressing CTRL+C key and pasting it to Notepad, but nothing appears. I will show you how to copy the text off a dialog box control or message box, so that it can be pasted as text into a notepad, email, forum or whatever.

Here’s not 1, but 7 freeware tools that is able to extract or copy text inside any windows or software. Some can even do more than that. So let’s check it out…

1. Count Characters

Count Characters allows you dump the contents of various combo, edit, list boxes, static, and button fields to the clipboard. The program can also reveal the plain text counterpart to some Windows password edit fields. Count Characters can come in handy for browser lists and various items displayed by other applications to which you otherwise have no access.
[ Download Count Characters ]

2. Scraper from PC Magazine

Scraper is a simple utility which can ’scrape’ text from other application windows. This lets you copy and save crucial message box text such as program or system error information. An “append” feature lets you add to the existing scraped text. In some cases, Scraper cannot copy message box information as text because of the manner in which it is displayed. To get around this problem, Scraper has an option to copy windows as images.
[ Download Scraper ]

3. ShoWin

ShoWin displays useful information about windows by dragging a cursor over them. Perhaps one of the most popular uses of this program is to display hidden password editbox fields (text behind the asterisks *****). This will work in many programs although Microsoft have changed the way things work in some of their applications, most notably MS Office products and Windows 2000. ShoWin will not work in these cases. Neither will it work for password entry boxes on web pages, at least with most web browsers. Additional features include the ability to enable windows that have been disabled, unhide hidden windows (try the program with the include invisibles option set and see how many windows you have on your desktop that you didn’t know about!) and force windows to stay on top or be placed below others.
[ Download ShoWin ]

4. SysExporter

SysExporter utility allows you to grab the data stored in standard list-views, tree-views, list boxes, combo boxes, text-boxes, and WebBrowser/HTML controls from almost any application running on your system, and export it to text, HTML or XML file.
[ Download SysExporter ]

5. WinScraper

WinScraper can “scrape” the text off a dialog box control or message box, so that it can be pasted as text into an email or whatever. It can also capture images of controls or windows from application and finally it can resize application or web browser windows to a specific size for testing alternate screen resolutions.
[ Download WinScraper ]

6. Textractor

Textractor is a text monitor for Windows XP/2000/NT. It captures and logs all text a program writes to the screen. Some programs write information so fast that your eye can’t read it. Many programs write lots of text without supporting the Windows clipboard. Textractor gives you the chance to capture all text an applications outputs without having to retype it or using an OCR program. Textractor also works with console applications.
[ Download Textractor ]

7. TextGrabber

TextGrabber copies the textual information out of windows that are notoriously difficult or impossible to copy (such as Explorer windows and tree controls). It will extract the text from list controls, tree controls, combo boxes, edit controls, listboxes, status bars, headers, and tab controls, and a few other window types.
[ Download TextGrabber ]

There you go, 7 free tools to help you easily copy text or error messages from any dialog boxes in Windows. Try them all if you have the time and tell me which is your favorite.

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