ipython_cpaste.md

iPython "magic" %cpaste; assign to a variable

In iPython:

~ $ ipython
Python 2.7.10 (default, Oct 23 2015, 19:19:21)
Type "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.

IPython 2.3.0 -- An enhanced Interactive Python.
?         -> Introduction and overview of IPython's features.
%quickref -> Quick reference.
help      -> Python's own help system.
object?   -> Details about 'object', use 'object??' for extra details.

In [1]:

Assign what you're about to paste to variabe currToParse, paste from clipboard, end the %cpaste "session" with -- and hit enter to finish assigning to the variable:

In [90]: %cpaste currToParse
Pasting code; enter '--' alone on the line to stop or use Ctrl-D.
:
{ugly multiline code you paste from clipboard}
:--

Block assigned to 'currToParse'

Join into a single string:

In [91]: currToParse = "\n".join(currToParse)

No we can manipulate this monstrosity of ugly multiline HTML code etc. from inside the iPython interpreter