can't copy and paste

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Mon, 09/03/2012 - 06:20 am

Hi,


Whenever I try to copy code from an ipf file I get the error:

"The operation could not be completed because windows OS error-access denied"

and in the history there is a message saying:

"WMSetScrapData: OpenClipboard. Windows error code = 0."

Does anybody have any ideas why this is happening?

The ipf files are stored in google drive, not sure if that could be related.


Cheers
We have had this report from time to time but I have never figured out what the cause is.

Please do the following:

1. Quit and restart Igor. Does the problem go away?

2. Restart your machine. Does the problem go away?

3. Install the 6.30B01 beta version of Igor. If you are running a recent version of Igor you can do this by choosing Help->Updates for Igor.

The beta version has workaround for this problem. After installing it, let me know if the problem goes away.

September 3, 2012 at 10:09 am - Permalink

Thanks for your help. I've just updated, will let you know if it has worked.

September 4, 2012 at 01:38 am - Permalink

Hi

I'm still getting the error message. Though it seems to be happening less frequently.


Cheers

September 5, 2012 at 01:50 am - Permalink

Same Problem here with the beta. Error Code is 5.

Regards, Lars

September 5, 2012 at 05:17 am - Permalink

Quote:
I'm still getting the error message.


I'm afraid that I am out of tricks.

The error is coming from the OS OpenClipboard call. The workaround in the beta is to retry OpenClipboard if it fails.

My theory, or guess, is that some add-on software is modifying the behavior of the clipboard. In the last report I had of this, in January 2012, the user (running Windows 7) found that it happened only when RealVNC networking software was in use. The workaround fixed it for him, he reported.

Here is a link that may provide some support for this theory:
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vcgeneral/thread/24832934…

September 5, 2012 at 09:09 am - Permalink

I tried to disable a lot of stuff (auto loading programs and services) but so far I had no success to find the source of the problem. I'm wondering why the problem only affects Igor and not for example my editor Textpad.

Regard, Lars

September 9, 2012 at 03:07 pm - Permalink

Quote:
I'm wondering why the problem only affects Igor and not for example my editor Textpad.

That's a good question and I have no ideas.

You might try disabling Igor Extension by launching with the Shift key pressed. This may result in some compile errors if you have procedure files activated that requires XOPs.

You might try changing your default printer driver. This is grasping at straws but that's all I got.

Does this happen every time you try to copy or intermittently?

September 9, 2012 at 07:52 pm - Permalink

I have been seeing the same thing as Lars on an HP Laptop running Windows 7 (Error code 5 running Igor 6.30 Beta).
The problem is intermittent for me, in fact right after I get the error I am able to copy and paste successfully.
I have never noticed any problem with this error on my desktop (also Win 7 Igor 6.30 Beta).
However, I am never able to copy and paste a wave name from the Data Browser, I don't get an error, it just does not work - this would be a nice feature to have working.

September 10, 2012 at 08:30 am - Permalink

Quote:
However, I am never able to copy and paste a wave name from the Data Browser


On Windows, the Data Browser tree view is a Windows OS widget. This is how it works for me on Windows 7.

1. Click wave name in data browser.
2. The name field switches to edit mode as indicated by a box around the name, name displayed as white text on a dark blue background, and a blinking cursor and the right edge of the blue background.
3. Choose Edit->Paste or Ctrl-V.
4. Name field changes. Now black text with white background and blinking cursor at right edge.
5. Press enter or click elsewhere - name is changed.

September 10, 2012 at 09:41 am - Permalink

So I guess my problem is that Ctrl-p and Ctrl-v do not work for me for either copying or pasting using the Data Browser.
By right-clicking and choosing copy, paste, etc, it seems I have full functionality.
Interestingly, Ctrl-p and Ctrl-v work everywhere else within Igor.

September 10, 2012 at 10:40 am - Permalink

BMangum wrote:
So I guess my problem is that Ctrl-p and Ctrl-v do not work for me for either copying or pasting using the Data Browser.


Ctrl-P is not relevant.

On my Windows 7 machine, Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V and Ctrl-X all work correctly when editing a wave name in the Data Browser.

September 10, 2012 at 10:50 am - Permalink

I am dumb, of course I meant Ctrl-c and Ctrl-v.
I guess I should have included more details: Ctrl commands work in 32 bit 6.30 beta, but not in the 64 bit version 6.30 Beta

September 10, 2012 at 10:59 am - Permalink

hrodstein wrote:
Quote:
I'm wondering why the problem only affects Igor and not for example my editor Textpad.

That's a good question and I have no ideas.

You might try disabling Igor Extension by launching with the Shift key pressed. This may result in some compile errors if you have procedure files activated that requires XOPs.

You might try changing your default printer driver. This is grasping at straws but that's all I got.

Does this happen every time you try to copy or intermittently?


I will check the above out.

It happens around 20% of the time I try to copy text in the editor or the command window.

Regards, Lars

September 14, 2012 at 05:03 am - Permalink

Strangely enough I've been having the same error as Seb, but only using the copy shortcut (ctrl+c). When I right click using the mouse to copy and paste I don't get the error message.

September 14, 2012 at 06:35 am - Permalink

Quote:
Strangely enough I've been having the same error as Seb, but only using the copy shortcut (ctrl+c). When I right click using the mouse to copy and paste I don't get the error message.


I should add here that I so far only used shortcuts to copy/paste

Regards, Lars

September 17, 2012 at 04:31 am - Permalink

I've had this error as well with Windows 7.I thought it was related to Virtual box. Sometimes I just try more than a few times and it will eventually copy or cut text.

September 18, 2012 at 12:24 am - Permalink

Same problem here.
WMSetScrapData: OpenClipboard. Windows error code = 5."

appears using the shortcut Ctrl+C sometimes. When retrying it sometimes work, sometimes not. When I then use the mouse right click to copy it works sometimes, but sometimes not. Then when I switch to use cut instead of copy it sometimes works, sometimes it doesn't. After trying all of these things a couple of times I mostly end up in a state where none of them work.

I am using the 6.3.0.2 64-bit version under Windows 7.

November 22, 2012 at 06:49 am - Permalink

Please tell me in what window you are trying to do the copy and what is selected so I can try to reproduce what you are doing.

November 22, 2012 at 07:30 am - Permalink

In any Window. For sure at least in the procedure files and the command window. But I think it appeared even when I tried to copy a wave name from the data browser window.

I feel, it occures the more often, the more content I have selected to copy to the clipboard. But this is not empirically proofed.

The weired thing is, it doesn't happen constantly. There are sometimes days where it doesn't happen at all. I couldn't figure out yet what it depends on.

November 29, 2012 at 07:24 am - Permalink

Thanks for the report.

It might be related to some other program that is running or some intrusive service such as a virus blocker. That's just a guess but I don't have anything else to offer.

November 29, 2012 at 10:11 am - Permalink

A colleague just brought this to my attention: http://www.just-great-software.com/newsletter.html#wrsa

What is says is that software called "WebRoot SecureAnywhere" can block an application from pasting.

It's possible that the cause of the pasting problem reported with Igor is "WebRoot SecureAnywhere" or some other security-related software. If you are experiencing this problem, try to turn off or adjust your security software and let me know what you find.

February 28, 2013 at 10:22 am - Permalink

I also have similar kind of problem. I were not able to copy and paste any image/graph from IGOR to ppt,doc file. Its not giving any error message also. I am having IGOR pro 6.3.0.0 installed in WINDOWS 7 64 bit. Then I thought may be some other program is interfering with IGOR. Then I formatted the my computer and re installed everything. Then Found it si working. But sometime if I process an image file with some macro ( not in case of all macro though) I cannot copy the image file. It is not copied in the clipboard. I don't know why? But it never shows any error message also.

March 13, 2013 at 10:05 pm - Permalink

With switching from Windows 7 32/64 Bit to Windows 8 64 Bit, the problem is still around over here.

Regards, Lars

March 14, 2013 at 07:50 am - Permalink

Quote:
It is not copied in the clipboard. I don't know why? But it never shows any error message also.


I don't know why either but you can export to a file using File->Save Graphics.

March 14, 2013 at 07:53 am - Permalink

Lars wrote:
With switching from Windows 7 32/64 Bit to Windows 8 64 Bit, the problem is still around over here.


This suggests the possibility that you have installed some software, possibly anti-virus or other security software, on both machines.

I have both Windows 7 and Windows 8 machines and I have not seen the problem.

You might try temporarily disabling the security software to see if it changes Igor's behavior.

March 14, 2013 at 07:55 am - Permalink

hrodstein wrote:
Lars wrote:
With switching from Windows 7 32/64 Bit to Windows 8 64 Bit, the problem is still around over here.


This suggests the possibility that you have installed some software, possibly anti-virus or other security software, on both machines.


My colleague and I both have Windows 7 installed (his 32bit,mine 64bit). We both have Norton 360 installed. Though in his machine there is no problem, I cannot copy anything (from today I have seen) in my system. Its definitely some problem to do with the IGOR as origin and other software works fine in my system and I can copy paste anything.

My colleague is having this problem sometimes. Often he can't copy paste but not regularly like me.

Though I also think it may be some other software/program interfering with this. But problem is that we are unable to identify the program creating the problem.
anyway I am doing it the way you said i.e."Save Graphics"

Hoping for a solution

March 15, 2013 at 12:39 am - Permalink

If possible try temporarily disabling Norton 360 and see if the problem goes away. Also see if Norton 360 has the ability to exclude an application that you specify from certain security measures.

March 15, 2013 at 07:15 am - Permalink

I've seen this on at least three of the four lab computers I use, as well as on my personal laptop. Sometimes it goes for days and only happens once or twice, and sometimes (like right now) it seems like it happens all the time. I have to do a lot of copying and pasting to organize the data from various fits, and this is super annoying. A few things I've noticed which may or may not help:

  • I don't have any antivirus software, WebRoot SecureAnywhere or anything similar on any of these computers.
  • I don't have any VNC software except for Teamviewer, and turning that off doesn't make any difference.
  • I sometimes see this trying to copy from the history window, but usually when copying from a table which contains a mixture of waves and variables. I never see it when attempting to paste.
  • The chance of it happening seems to decrease somewhat if I wait a few seconds after generating the table before attempting to copy the contents to the clipboard.
  • Often, if I try to copy the exact same thing after dismissing the error, it works. Occasionally I need to do this two or three times.
  • Restarting doesn't seem to help the problem, and sometimes seems to make it worse.
  • I have seen this for sure in 64 bit Windows 7 and 64 bit Windows 8, and I think also in 32 bit XP (although I need to double check that one).

    Let me know if there's any more information or logs I can provide to help out on this score.

    • September 17, 2013 at 11:38 am - Permalink

    Thanks for the detailed report. To complete the record please edit and add what Igor version you are running and whether it is the 32-bit Igor or 64-bit Igor.

    Also add the specific error message that you are getting. The original poster got "The operation could not be completed because windows OS error-access denied". I'm not sure if you are getting the same message or something different.

    Quote:
    I don't have any VNC software except for Teamviewer, and turning that off doesn't make any difference.


    Programs like Teamviewer are extremely invasive and involve many hacks to the OS. This leads me to a hunch that it is the culprit.

    I would reboot after turning it off. And if rebooting does not fix the problem I would try uninstalling Teamviewer.

    Quote:
    The chance of it happening seems to decrease somewhat if I wait a few seconds after generating the table before attempting to copy the contents to the clipboard.


    If you can confirm that it sounds like some sort of security measure - trying to distinguish between human interaction and software control.

    September 17, 2013 at 02:22 pm - Permalink

    amellnik wrote:

    I don't have any VNC software except for Teamviewer, and turning that off doesn't make any difference.


    A quick search for "Teamviewer copy and paste" brought this up as the first Google result:

    "Teamviewer - Copy and Paste Issue" - http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1435017

    So possibly updating Teamviewer may be a solution.

    --Jim Prouty
    Software Engineer, WaveMetrics, Inc.

    September 17, 2013 at 02:53 pm - Permalink

    Just to follow up, I haven't had to do these fits in the past week, but the next time I see the problem I will add more details. I would note that I'm using 6.3.2.3, and get the same error message as above. This problem also predates my use of teamviewer.

    September 30, 2013 at 12:28 pm - Permalink

    Today I found a procedure to reproduce the "Error in WMSetScrapData : OpenClipboard. Windows error code = 5." bug.

    Open Igor 6.34A and then open Gimp 2.8.10 (german), my box is a windows 7 x64.
    Then I get on any attempt to copy some text out of the Igor procedure window the above error.

    As soon as I close Gimp the error is gone.

    April 22, 2014 at 08:22 am - Permalink

    I received a report of this problem happening with Inkscape.
    Quote:

    There is some correlation between the copy/cut/paste problem and Inkscape. Closing any open Inkscape windows seems to have resolved the issue.

    May 21, 2014 at 08:14 am - Permalink

    I also use both Gimp and Inkscape a lot, the next time I see this I will try to test it out. -A

    June 3, 2014 at 03:12 pm - Permalink