"CLEAR" EXTENSION TO A PASTE COMMAND FOR A CLIPBOARD FUNCTION IN A COMPUTER SYSTEM

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture providing a "clear" extension to a paste command for a clipboard function in a computer system. Data is displayed on a monitor of the computer and one or more commands are received from an operator to select an insertion point in the data displayed on the monitor, to paste the contents of a clipboard memory in the computer to the selected insertion point in the data displayed on the monitor, and to selectively keep or clear the contents of the clipboard memory after the contents of the clipboard memory have been pasted to the selected insertion point.