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01 Dec 07 - 06:51 PM (#2206511) Subject: Tech: B/S Cut and paste From: Bonecruncher Until recently I have been able to highlight, cut and paste information from the Forum to Word or another word processor for my own archives. This was a useful feature for the words of a song, "funnies" or even recipes for the kitchen. It also allowed me to print one reply of all the posts on a subject. Now, although the highlight works, I can no longer cut and paste, nor can I print a single response. Is this me, my system, or have the Mudcat officials for some reason denied me this facility. Colyn. |
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01 Dec 07 - 07:28 PM (#2206528) Subject: RE: Tech: Cut and paste From: The Fooles Troupe No problem here. This could be due to your brower settings - what browser are you using? |
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01 Dec 07 - 07:31 PM (#2206531) Subject: RE: Tech: Cut and paste From: JohnInKansas Cut from your post, pasted to Word, cut from word, pasted here: Until recently I have been able to highlight, cut and paste information from the Forum to Word or another word processor for my own archives. (Italics added) No visible problem. A most probably cause is that your Temp Space on your hard drive is so jammed full that there's not room for the clipboard. A hard drive that's just too full (too little free space), badly fragmented (too little usable free space), or too many things loading at Startup so that your RAM is overstuffed. Assuming you're using Windows(?) In IE, Tools|Internet Options, General Tab, Delete Button, will let you remove Temporary Internet Files that may be choking your system. You'll get a chance to choose what to delete after you click that first button, so don't be bashful. Check your other browser if needed to find a similar place. Since files that are open can't be removed, a better, and more thorough method is to close all files: Start|Programs|Accessories|System Tools|Disk Cleanup Usually clearing up the trash will restore the clipboard (Copy/Paste) function. Occasionally a defrag may also be needed. Recent Windows version can use a maximum of 10% of the free space on the hard drive (as normally set up), so if you have less than 20% free on your main hard drive, or in any case less than about a couple of GB of "emptiness" you might want to look at offloading some stuff to a backup. Windows cannot (actually it's more will not) defrag a Hard Drive if the free space goes below 10% of the drive usable size, so a 160 GB drive (~150 GB useful) needs at least 15 GB (20 GB is better) to be "cleanupable." John |
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01 Dec 07 - 07:35 PM (#2206532) Subject: RE: Tech: Cut and paste From: Malcolm Douglas What you need to tell us is what you have changed on your system since the last time you successfully used the copy-and-paste (not cut-and-paste) function. The problem is certainly at your end, but without any background information any suggestions that people may make will be no more than guesses. |
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01 Dec 07 - 09:35 PM (#2206580) Subject: RE: Tech: Cut and paste From: JohnInKansas It would also help to confirm what browser you usually use, and which of the methods you're using for the Copy/Cut/Paste functions. Probably most people use the "Quick Keys" Ctl-C to copy, Ctl-X to cut1 , and Ctl-V to paste. You can also do it the hard way and use the Edit menu: Edit|Copy, Edit|Cut, Edit|Paste. (If you're using IE7, that toolbar isn't shown in the default setup, so you'd need to click Tools over at the right and put a check beside "Menu Bar" to bring it up.) 1 As Malcolm hints, you can't Cut from a web page in any normal situation, so you'd only want to try to use copy and paste. GENERAL HINT: In any case of "deviant behavior" a reboot of the computer is often the thing that fixes stuff. John |
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01 Dec 07 - 09:46 PM (#2206586) Subject: RE: Tech: Cut and paste From: Sorcha Yes...I have both cut and copy. I only ever use copy. Never had a problem (except with some things and pages that just won't let you copy) |
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01 Dec 07 - 10:20 PM (#2206594) Subject: RE: Tech: Cut and paste From: Joe Offer Note that the "printer friendly" format of Mudcat messages and threads is no easier to copy and paste than the regular format - but the "printer friendly" format has less junk like repeated links that people most probably wouldn't want to copy or print. I usually right-click to copy and paste stuff, but I have come across some pages that won't allow a right-click but do allow copying using CNTRL-C. There have been no significant technical changes at Mudcat for a number of years, but automatic updates change our browsers and computers every day. If there's a problem copying from Mudcat, it's most likely on your computer. I've noticed that I sometimes have problems with copy-paste if my computer has been running for a long time, and particularly if I have a number of browser windows open. A reboot almost always always solved the problem. And as John in Kansas said above, you can't cut from most sections of Mudcat - you can only copy and paste. -Joe- |
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01 Dec 07 - 11:02 PM (#2206603) Subject: RE: Tech: Cut and paste From: JohnInKansas As indicated above, if your temp space is stuffed or trashed, you can't copy because there's no place to put it. This usually means that your main hard drive is full, fragmented, or has picked up some errors in the file tables. Any key combination, like Ctl-C/Ctl-V, right clicking a selection, etc can be redifined to use different keys, or some other operation can be changed to use the keys you think will do the copy/paste. Very rarely a new program may "set" quick-keys that conflict/override the normal ones. Using the menu bar and clicking down through Edit|Copy etc is almost infallible if the clipboard is functional, so a first check using that method probably would tell whether you have a setup problem or if Windows actually is "broken." The main menu bar can be changed (in versions prior to Vista) but it's rather difficult to make an existing standard function quit working. (The superior reliability of the bar probably explains why Microsoft removed/hid it in the default configuration for IE7 and why mostly it's trashed/inoperable/useless/non-confurable in Vista - and in new Office programs - generally.) John |
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02 Dec 07 - 08:21 AM (#2206724) Subject: RE: Tech: Cut and paste From: The Fooles Troupe JiK Do I detect a note of cynicism there? :-P There was also a hard limit in some earlier versions (Win9x) of some things in Microcrap of 64Kb - attempts to cut (or copy) and paste would fail. |
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02 Dec 07 - 02:21 PM (#2206961) Subject: RE: Tech: Cut and paste From: JohnInKansas Foolestroupe - It's not cynicism. I've made a reasonable attempt to use Vista, which was the only thing I could get on my new laptop - now 4 months old. A few of the editors who wrote all the glowing reviews when it first came out are beginning now to realize that it's possibly the worst mistake Microsoft has made since WinME, and perhaps outclasses even that colossal blunder. Office Professional is screwed up even worse than Vista. Worse yet, I've begun seeing comments referring to the new Mac OS that some now are calling "Leopturd" as "the other Vista" for exactly the same reasons, so 'Nux may be the only option left. WinXP does clearly indicate a few specific limitations on clipboard and other temp spaces. Older Office versions clearly show recommended limits for file sizes, number of links, number of bookmarks, etc., but they're quite usable. The only reason for mentioning the temp space limits was that they may be "smaller than expected" by those who haven't encountered a need to do cleanup and organizing tasks, and might think they've got a "really big drive in a powerful machine" so maintenance doesn't matter. It matters. John |
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02 Dec 07 - 07:13 PM (#2207179) Subject: RE: Tech: Cut and paste From: Sorcha OK, bud...I run WinME....what's so wrong with it? |
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02 Dec 07 - 08:08 PM (#2207208) Subject: RE: Tech: Cut and paste From: JohnInKansas Sorcha - Obviously you have the "mature version" - but you're still hanging in circles where reputations are dubious. On the other hand, with respect to WinME ... Compared to other versions in the same archaic era, WinME is generally conceded to be the least stable, most easily infected, and has poorest compatibility with third party software of that time. If you're still "running WinME" you're mostly just running Win98SE, if you kept up with the updates you could get before they both went obsolete, because refusal of most sysadmins to try to keep WinME running forced Mickey to dump most of their support effort back on the earlier version, with most "patches" being made for Win98SE and ported off to WinME as an afterthought. But a bad reputation doesn't necessarily mean John |
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02 Dec 07 - 09:06 PM (#2207229) Subject: RE: Tech: Cut and paste From: Nick E Dont cut, just copy & paste |
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02 Dec 07 - 09:14 PM (#2207233) Subject: RE: Tech: Cut and paste From: Bonecruncher Thanks to all respondents for the assistance above. Sorry about the "frustration" error where I referred to "cut and paste" where I meant "copy and paste". Using Windosw Vista Home Basic, which was preloaded on the new computer, which gives me Internet Explorer as my internet link. So far I've had no problems at all with Vista, which has quite happily run all my ancient programs such as Office Pro., even Pressworks 2.5 dated Oct. 1998. Previously all the same programs ran satisfactorily on Windows ME. One can only speak as one finds. Back to my problem. I can right-click on a sentence to highlight it, which is successful. Right-click again should bring up the "copy and paste" menu, which it doesn't. Just nothing. Using the drop-down "Edit" menu WILL copy the highlighted area, allowing me to insert it into "Word" or wherever. Could it be that my mouse is at fault, (one of these new type with headlights, rather than with it's balls under it's tail)? Or is there some secret code that I need to enter to restore the mouse to full working order? Please don't ask me about "versions", "editions" or anything else technical. While I fully understand the way in which the body works (I'm an osteopath) the workings of a computer are a black art. TIA Colyn |
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02 Dec 07 - 11:29 PM (#2207280) Subject: RE: Tech: Cut and paste From: Malcolm Douglas In that case, just don't mess about right-clicking. Merely select/highlight the text you want to copy, then use the 'edit' menu (or, easier, the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+C) to copy it. Perfectly simple. You gave the impression that you couldn't do it at all. If you want more detailed information, you might want to ask on a tech support forum rather than one devoted to music, of course; though you would need to ask the question intelligently and provide proper information. Think of it like this: next time somebody turns up here with a 'tech' category question on the lines of 'I have a problem with one of my bones; it isn't working quite like it used to', what would you need to know before you could offer helpful advice? |
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03 Dec 07 - 01:19 AM (#2207310) Subject: RE: Tech: Cut and paste From: JohnInKansas Bonecrusher - Carefully now. FIRST ISSUE I can right-click on a sentence to highlight it ????? You normally left-click to highlight, and then right-click on the highlighted area to drop down the menu where you can left-click the Copy command. If you actually do right-click to select, or if you can select using the right button, your mouse buttons have gotten "flipped" and you should be able to left-click on what you highlighted to drop down the menu, then right-click to select Copy. This is a standard "optional setting" to accomodate lefties. If that's the case, and you're not left-handed, go to Start|Control Panel1 and double click on "Mouse." On the "Buttons" tab2, check that you're set for a Right-handed mouse. (The other possibility is that your mouse has just gotten turned around and you're looking at its nose instead of up its ass in the normal manner.) 1 Vista defaults have lots of commands in irrational and bizarre locations. I've set mine to show Control Panel on the Start Menu, and your computer builder may have done that for you; but you may have to look elsewhere to get Control Panel open. Good luck, if it's not already there, as I don't recall where I finally found it the first time. 2 The tabs and choices can vary with the kind of mouse you have installed, but there should always be a place to "swap buttons" if you're using any mouse with two or more buttons. SECOND ISSUE If your optical mouse (with headlight instead of ball) doesn't have a wire/cord/cable connecting it to the computer, it has a battery inside the mouse. A low battery sometimes will still click one-side and not the other, although usually the whole mouse performance just quits - or becomes very erratic. If you do have a cable to the computer, there shouldn't be a separate mouse battery so don't worry about it. THIRD ISSUE Recent Windows versions have had some problems with USB devices, particularly with the mouse. Until a patch was distributed, quite a few WinXP users reported that if the mouse was moved while the computer was going into a standby or sleep mode, they had no mouse when the computer woke back up. Usually a reboot will clear the USB connection. If a simple reboot doesn't work, the mouse should be disconnected, reboot, and reconnect the mouse after windows starts up. You should be able to plug in as soon as the login screen shows up, if there's a problem with needing the mouse to get the rest of the way in. (An alternate method: reboot with the mouse disconnected, plug in and reboot.) If your mouse has a connecting wire/cable, and the connector on the computer end is about a half inch wide and 1/8 inch thick, that's a USB connector. If it's any other shape, you have an "old fashioned serial" mouse that shouldn't be affected by the known problems, although a reboot sometimes is helpful just "because it works." I haven't seen any reports of this same mouse problem with Vista, but it's new enough that not seeing a report is not too reassuring. About half of users report the mouse scroll wheel doesn't work in the new Word in Vista, but does work in all the other programs. This was reported to Microsoft during first beta trials five years ago and they have made NO RESPONSE to it. There is no reason not to suspect that other mouse problems, for USB and other kinds, may have crossed over into Vista. FOURTH ISSUE A temp space cleanup is still recommended. A reboot should, but doesn't always, clear a lot of the trash. The best way to clean up is to close all programs you have running, open Windows Explorer, Right Click on your main hard drive and select Properties. Click on the General tab and there should be a button called "Disk Cleanup." Click and enjoy. It should (eventually) show you several categories of things that can be removed. Generally it's safe to remove anything listed. John |
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03 Dec 07 - 02:12 AM (#2207318) Subject: RE: Tech: Cut and paste From: The Fooles Troupe "Sorry about the "frustration" error where I referred to "cut and paste" where I meant "copy and paste"." Don't worry about it. We've had almost whole threads devoted here to that here in the recent past... :-) |
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03 Dec 07 - 03:05 AM (#2207342) Subject: RE: Tech: Cut and paste From: JohnInKansas And just remember that although the mouse is one of the most marvelous inventions in computing, it's been the source of wonder, puzzlement, and rude jokes since it was invented. The first mouses had balls of steel, that tended to pick up crud from the desktop (even before the other invention - the mouse pad). Service reps, who actually came to the computers, became practiced at "washing your balls." It was discovered quite quickly however that freshly washed balls got dirty again much quicker than fresh new ones, and the damage was progressively, with less performance recovery each time the balls were dunked in the alcohol rinse. This was known as "drunken mouse syndrome." Service reps were trained to always have a few extra balls with them, so that they could replace ones that were past rehabilitation. No one knows what the reps did with their recovered drunken balls, but they were teased about their recovery program. Because of the need for service reps always to have enough balls, IBM was noted for REQUIRING that service offices post by the door, where reps had to go past on the way out, the prominint sign that asked: HAVE YOU CHECKED YOUR BALLS? Times have changed however, and widespread opinion holds that modern technical service reps have no balls at all. (And they won't come to the office when you need them.) John |
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03 Dec 07 - 06:16 AM (#2207404) Subject: RE: Tech: Cut and paste From: Mr Happy I find a bit of spit on a hanky or tissue rubbed onto the rollers of old mice works wonders |
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03 Dec 07 - 09:44 AM (#2207491) Subject: RE: Tech: Cut and paste From: jeffp John, that was worthy of Spaw! Well Done! |
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03 Dec 07 - 10:51 AM (#2207542) Subject: RE: Tech: Cut and paste From: Bee Have I mentioned recently that, other than my lovely brother in law, John in Kansas has solved more computing problems for me than all the techs I've ever employed put together? Usually I just search for tech threads, find John's posts, and there's the answer. Big thanks, John! |
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03 Dec 07 - 07:39 PM (#2207918) Subject: RE: Tech: Cut and paste From: JohnInKansas Even JiK gets slapped down occasionally. I had a very nice comment all prepared to go in reply to a question up above, but I decided to look at it one more time before posting. About 4 hours ago my C:\ drive said "pffftchchchc" and QUIT. Fortunately, when I got the replacement drive (Seagate warranty) for one that failed in another computer a few months ago, I'd already replaced the other one, so I mirrored the one that just failed onto the spare; but it's about 6 months behind on System updates, and had an obsolete AV program on it. I have backups of most documents from less than a month ago, so I won't lose much, but can't (don't intend to) hook up the Doc backup drive until I get the main machine cleaned up, so I'm not really sure how recent the last backup was. Installing my AV update hit a clinker, because the previous version left some little bits when I ran the uninstall. A visit to Symantec found that they've "improved" their website so that the navigation toolbar is "hidden" - preventing me from getting to their download page to get the "super Norton remove everything utility" that I need, to be able to install the new AV. Start a chat support session (free?). Download of their chat support software fails after 20 minutes. Start another chat support session. Download of their chat support software fails after about 22 minutes. Start a third chat support session. Software downloads. Chat started, but wait for a rep (6th in line when connected - about a 10 minute wait). Eventually tech support guy is entering the link urls I need, when Microsoft pops in with "You have made major changes to your computer and everything Microsoft will cease working immediately.' No way to save the links, Notepad, Wordpad, and all Office programs disabled Save, the chat session is in a Frame and won't print (probably Flash?) so request that the tech guy send them via email. He agrees to send. (Waiting for the email two hours later. Hook up to Microsoft update, and after about 10 minutes of "checking for updates" I get "the page cannot be opened on your computer. Several suggested help links take about 15 minutes to flip through, finding absolutely nothing. Two retries at the update site - same result. Open chat support at Microsoft and give them a description of problem. They reply promptly by email to indicate that I should receive an answer "sometime." Back to Microsoft update, I find that "Custom Install" works, sort of, but requires a 24 minute download of the "Authentication Program" before it will give me any updates. Authentication never asks any questions, having apparently satisfied itself once the new utility was in place; but proceeds to a list of 34 Critical Updates that I need. (There are half a dozen optionals that I'll want and will get later.) Currently 15 downloaded, but they seem to download the littel ones first, so I expect about 11 hours to get them all - with about 1:45 done so far, if the connection stays up that long (which is sort of rare). Installation, with reboots, should only take a couple of hours once I've got the downloads. But for now you won't see my lovely comment, since it wasn't backed up. Since it was "abouut Microsoft" I may have other comments later, so stay tuned. John |
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03 Dec 07 - 10:23 PM (#2207993) Subject: RE: Tech: Cut and paste From: Bonecruncher Thanks to all above. Have taken your advice and am about to do a disk cleanup. As my problem only occurs within this forum, all other programs being "normal", I have decided to use the Edit menu for any copies I wish to make. Colyn. |
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03 Dec 07 - 11:03 PM (#2208020) Subject: RE: Tech: Cut and paste From: The Fooles Troupe John, John, John! It's called Karma, mate. That'll teach you to make nasty comments at others... :-P :-) ROFL... |