Send preformatted text in Skype

Question

Sometimes I send pieces of code using Skype. Very often the text is messed up with smileys, and some brackets show up doubled.

Can I somehow send text that will not be transformed? Something like <pre> in HTML.

EDIT ( 19 march 2015 ): In Win 8.1 Skype version 7.2.59.103 (for desktop) both nesono's answer and Nishanth C's answer are working.

You could disable smileys and suggest your recipient do the same. It's not as nice as what you're asking for though. — Kyle Smith, May 18 '11 at 14:48
For reference, [here](https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA3271/how-do-i-send-an-instant-message-in-skype-for-windows-desktop?q=chat+formatting#) is the official list of Skype formatting escapes, under **Formatting your instant messages**. — István Zachar, Jul 15 '16 at 18:03
note, the opening {code} has to be at the beginning of a line — Jens Frandsen, Jun 22 '17 at 01:28
@IstvánZachar Skype formatting seems to have changed radically in the new Skype included as part of Windows 10 (I'm on Skype 12.7.597.0). I have asked a new question at [Do not insert emoticons into sent messages in Skype version 12](https://superuser.com/questions/1265799/do-not-insert-emoticons-into-sent-messages-in-skype-version-12) — Silverfish, Nov 06 '17 at 16:29

score 74 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 03 '14 at 19:33

74

New skype has a feature to add code. Try this

{code}
call_function(0);
:)
(smoke)
{code}

answered Dec 03 '14 at 19:33

Nishanth C

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Could you please qualify *new* with a concrete version number? – O. R. Mapper Dec 07 '14 at 12:41
2

It works here. Skype 7.1.0.105 – Francisco R Mar 03 '15 at 16:46
This do not work with web skype at this time – Carlo Pires Feb 05 '16 at 18:39
1

Does not work on Skype Linux 4.3.0.37. – Ciro Santilli OurBigBook.com May 25 '17 at 13:02
Does not work with Skype for Linux Beta 5.4.0.1 and xml – Manuel Manhart Sep 04 '17 at 13:49
This does not work in Skype for Business 16.0.4549.1000 32-bit on Windows 7 Pro SP1 (6.1.7601.65536) – ShooShoSha Sep 18 '17 at 18:24
This breaks in new coloured Skype v8.10.0.4 when using multiple code blocks in between normal text in one message. Ending tag doesn't seem to apply anymore. Wheres markdown multiple-backticks like in the answer below seem to work fine now. – leymannx Nov 09 '17 at 14:12
1

Working on Skype version 8.63.0.76 (Mac) – Mayuresh Srivastava Aug 06 '20 at 11:53
confirm. worked OK on Skype 8.69.0.77 under ubuntu20 – Vladimir Ch Nov 13 '21 at 10:46
Works, but still strips characters depending on what you are posting. The double bang '!!' (tho, it had limitations, too) didn't do this. Try this line for instance. `{code} 4562,xx@example.com,xx,randomtext!,example.com,USER,,1,[SMTP:user@example.com],1,0,400000,NULL,NULL,NULL {code}` When MS makes things better they always make things worse. Ever notice that? If something works leave it. (Me yelling at the wind.) – B. Shea May 06 '22 at 15:16

nesono · Accepted Answer · 2014-09-04T15:54:48.930

72

In fact you can keep Skype from parsing the snippet for smileys. Just use two exclamation marks as the first line (rest empty) and paste your snippet afterwards.

Example:

!! call_function(0); :) (smoke)

Apart from that, you can use decorations to post *bold*, _italic_ or ~strikethrough~ text.

edited Sep 04 '14 at 15:54

answered Sep 02 '14 at 11:55

nesono

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Skype for Windows (6.20.64.104) support that – KindDragon Sep 25 '14 at 13:58
3

You can also append "`!! ` " before the text to leave the text raw. I don't like the extra line made from !! – Andrew Wong Nov 01 '14 at 03:51
1

You don't have to make a new line after !!, a blank space suffices. E.g.: !! function foo() {}; Will output "function foo() {};", without the exclamation marks and the space. No new line. (Skype for OS X, 7.14 301) – EriF89 Nov 24 '15 at 14:09
Does not work on Skype Linux 4.3.0.37. – Ciro Santilli OurBigBook.com May 25 '17 at 13:03
Does not work with Skype for Linux Beta 5.4.0.1 and xml – Manuel Manhart Sep 04 '17 at 13:49
This does not work in Skype for Business 16.0.4549.1000 32-bit on Windows 7 Pro SP1 (6.1.7601.65536) – ShooShoSha Sep 18 '17 at 18:24
Working on Skype version 8.63.0.76 (Mac) – Mayuresh Srivastava Aug 06 '20 at 11:53
3

This has stopped working since a few months back in Skype for linux. `{code}` and ``` works though – Pawel Veselov May 19 '21 at 10:45
@nesono Fix your answer. – B. Shea Aug 04 '21 at 19:39

score 32 · Answer 3 · edited Sep 24 '19 at 12:10

32

Markdown-like syntax also works. For example:

``` 
var s = "Block highlighting"; 
alert(s); 
```

edited Sep 24 '19 at 12:10

Dmitry Grigoryev

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answered Jan 15 '17 at 11:33

Dmitry Rogov

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3
I would say this is the best (fastest) way. `{code} {code}` and `
```
 
```
` are longer to type and `
```
` tags are stripped when the message is edited.
```
– David Ferenczy Rogožan Feb 16 '17 at 15:36
2

Currently this does not work – JaKu Jun 29 '17 at 09:22
1

Does not work with Skype for Linux Beta 5.4.0.1 and xml – Manuel Manhart Sep 04 '17 at 13:49
1

This does not work in Skype for Business 16.0.4549.1000 32-bit on Windows 7 Pro SP1 (6.1.7601.65536) – ShooShoSha Sep 18 '17 at 18:24
1

Does work for me in Skype 8.58.0.93 in Windows 10 LTSB 2016 – Alexandr Zarubkin Mar 25 '20 at 14:13

rakslice · Answer 4 · 2011-05-10T11:26:18.060

3

To get around this kind of problem in other chat systems, people often post the code fragment on a web-based snippet site like pastebin.com and then just send a link to the code via chat.

edited May 10 '11 at 11:26

answered May 10 '11 at 04:10

rakslice

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I know, like pastie.org, jsfiddle.net, codetidy.com, tinypaste.com, codepad.org, pastesite.com. This is not the point of the question. – Bakudan May 10 '11 at 05:04
1

Sorry, based on question "Can I somehow send text that will not be transformed?" I thought you were looking for a workaround. – rakslice Feb 27 '16 at 00:24

Send preformatted text in Skype

4 Answers4

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