How can I save a screenshot directly to a file in

Question

In Windows XP, one can press Alt-PrintScreen to copy an image of the active window, or Ctrl-PrintScreen to copy an image of the full desktop.

This can then be pasted into applications that accept images: Photoshop, Microsoft Word, etc.

I'm wondering: Is there a way to save the screenshot directly to a file? Do I really have to open an image program, like Paint.net or Photoshop, simply to paste an image, then save it?

Answer 1

Little known fact: in most standard Windows (XP) dialogs, you can hit Ctrl+C to have a textual copy of the content of the dialog.
Example: open a file in Notepad, hit space, close the window, hit Ctrl+C on the Confirm Exit dialog, cancel, paste in Notepad the text of the dialog.
Unrelated to your direct question, but I though it would be nice to mention in this thread.

Beside, indeed, you need a third party software to do the screenshot, but you don't need to fire the big Photoshop for that. Something free and lightweight like IrfanWiew or XnView can do the job. I use MWSnap to copy arbitrary parts of the screen. I wrote a little AutoHotkey script calling GDI+ functions to do screenshots. Etc.

Answer 2

Very old post I realize, but windows finally realized how inane the process was.

In Windows 8.1 (verified, not working in windows 7 (tnx @bobobobo))

windows key + prnt screen saves the screenshot into a folder in <user>/Pictures/Screenshots

Source - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-in/windows/take-screen-capture-print-screen#take-screen-capture-print-screen=windows-8

Answer 3

You need a 3rd party screen grab utility for that functionality in XP. I dig Scott Hanselman's extensive blogging about cool tools and usually look there for such a utility -- sure enough, he's blogged about a couple here.

Answer 4

You may want something like this: http://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/5648

I think there is a version for IE and also with Explorer Integration. Pretty good software.

Answer 5

Might I suggest WinSnap http://www.ntwind.com/software/winsnap/download-free-version.html. It provides an autosave option and capture the alt+printscreen and other key combinations to capture screen, windows, dialog, etc.

Answer 6

Without installing a screenshot autosave utility, yes you do. There are several utilities you can find however folr doing this.

For example: http://www.screenshot-utility.com/