A method controls execution of an intended application. One or more processors receive a first formatted character string that is in a first format. The processor(s) determine which application from multiple applications is an intended application that is to use the first formatted character string as a basis of an input to the intended application. The processor(s) convert the first formatted character string into a second formatted character string by applying a second format that is used by the intended application, and then execute the intended application by using the second formatted character string as an input to the intended application.