[HOLD for payment 2022-01-11] [$1000] Copying messages with markdown via CTRL + C does not keep formatting

[isagoico]

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Action Performed:

1. Send several messages each with a different markdown (bold, strike, italic, and hyperlink)
2. Copy and paste each of the messages in compose box via the ctrl +C method

Expected Result:

HTML Markdown should be copied and pasted.

Actual Result:

HTML Markdown is not copied and user has to add the markdown again.

Workaround:

HTML Markdown is not copied and user has to add the markdown again.

Platform:

Where is this issue occurring?

• Web
• iOS
• Android
• Desktop App
• Mobile Web

Version Number: 1.0.94-0

Logs: https://stackoverflow.com/c/expensify/questions/4856

Notes/Photos/Videos: Any additional supporting documentation

Expensify/Expensify Issue URL:

Issue reported by: @Jag96 / @parasharrajat
Slack conversation: https://expensify.slack.com/archives/C01GTK53T8Q/p1631123012073500?thread_ts=1631122717.073400&cid=C01GTK53T8Q

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[MelvinBot]

Triggered auto assignment to @nickmurray47 (Engineering), see https://stackoverflow.com/c/expensify/questions/4319 for more details.

[isagoico]

Comment from thread that has more information on this bug:

• From @Jag96

Note that this is a different issue from #5125, which handles the copy via Copy from clipboard. Since this has come up a few times, I'm filing an issue here so we can have something to reference in the future.
The credit for finding this bug goes to @parasharrajat who asked about it initially in this issue.
The issue here is:

When I copy the existing sent message which is formatted and pastes it. it does not convert to formatted MD strings. The main issue here is that we don't use HTML semantic tags for rendering Every type of element is made with div and styling rules. Which we can't really interpret ATM.

So in order to fix this issue, we would have to use html tags such as a/em/b in our app instead of divs + styling.

[parasharrajat]

@isagoico You tagged the wrong guy.

[nickmurray47]

Reproduction steps are clear and confirmed this still happens locally.

So in order to fix this issue, we would have to use html tags such as a/em/b in our app instead of divs + styling.

@parasharrajat Where do these adjustments need to be made and are you interested in proposing a more detailed solution?

[parasharrajat]

I have requested the lib owner to possibly upgrade the lib so that we get this support out of the box. Otherwise, I will update here on what I think is best.

[nickmurray47]

Great, thanks @parasharrajat!

[nickmurray47]

Going to assign the External label and unassign myself, seems like a good issue for a contributor

[MelvinBot]

Triggered auto assignment to @dylanexpensify (External), see https://stackoverflow.com/c/expensify/questions/8582 for more details.