Copy/Paste Not Working

[joelmNKB6B]

I'm having an intermittent problem where when I copy/paste in AutoCAD nothing appears in the windows clipboard like you would expect. It tends to happen when more drawings are open and I'm copy/pasting from one dwg file to another. It does not happen consistently enough to replicate, but happens often enough to be a problem. I have a counterpart that has the same version of AutoCAD as me (with imported settings from my profile) and it also happens to her, she is using windows 11, and I am using windows 10. I am using U.152.0.0 AutoCAD 2024.1.2. We are also using an AutoCAD app called "Microsoft Office Importer" that I feel could be linked to the issue. It uses the clipboard to automatically update/format text in the dwg that is linked to an excel spreadsheet located in the same directory. Thanks in advance for any help, we are at our wit's end!

Here are my notes I have taken (These were just taken for personal reference, I apologize they are not very polished):

Solutions that have worked in the past:

• Open "drawing sheet index" and "bill of materials" then insert block. Will give error message asking if you want to restart audocad, cancel that. Then it should work.
• Ctrl-v, select random object in destination file, then paste it in same file. Then ctrl-shift-v from source, paste in destination file.
• Also try this copy in the source file it sometimes works
• Close all office documents, fill clipboard, then try again

Things to keep in mind and things that haven't worked:

• If closing the file and reopening it doesn't fix it. try running an "Audit" ("Y" to fix errors) then "Purge" command to clear everything extra out. If that still doesn't fix it try a "WBLOCK" command.
• Ctrl C / V are windows shortcut commands not autocad's, so I always look at it as problem with windows interfacing with Autocad. maybe too much clutter in the file or to big of a file size.

Situations in which it happens:

• Many files open and just copybase from one file to another
• Recently had copy and pasted some text from one note. After this when I try to copybase from within autocad it still pastes the same text into autocad. (thinking this is the same thing as when nothing pastes, there just happens to be something in the clipboard in this scenario)

[paullimapa]

Since you are suspicious about the cause being "Microsoft Office Importer" just disable this and see if the problem goes away

[joelmNKB6B]

Thanks! I uninstalled the app, and the problem went away with it. So now it's safe to say this is most likely caused by the app .

I still need to use the app, as the program is currently built into our workflow. Is there a way from within AutoCAD to enable/disable apps easily? installing/uninstalling from within windows when I need to use it is too cumbersome to be an option.

[paullimapa]

Glad you narrowed down to confirm that "Microsoft Office Importer" is causing the issue.

You should contact the developer to see if there's an option to temporarily disable it and then re-enable it instead of uninstalling.

Now if it's an exe file that's running then you can try using Windows taskkill.exe to terminate the application from within AutoCAD.  Then you'll just have to start "Microsoft Office Importer" again when you're ready.

For example if you want to end the Notepad program that's running while you're in AutoCAD enter this at the command prompt:

(Startapp "taskkill /F /T /IM notepad.exe")

To find out what "Microsoft Office Importer" exe is called launch Taskmanager, select Process tab and then scroll down the list to see if you can find "Microsoft Office Importer". Then right mouse click and select Properties. Under the General tab it'll show the name of the exe file.  On the same tab will show you the Location where the exe file is stored for you to launch it again. So to start Notepad again from inside AutoCAD enter this at the command prompt:

(Startapp "notepad.exe")

[joelmNKB6B]

Thanks! Is there a way to by default have this app stopped, but if I need to run it then I can enable it with the "startapp" command?

[paullimapa]

Assuming that "Microsoft Office Importer" program automatically starts when you start Windows then you can disable it from running at startup in Task Manager. Follow the instructions here:

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-11/how-to-disable-startup-programs-in-windows-11-3-wa...

[joelmNKB6B]

It is not in my startup programs in windows (I'm still trying to find out what the app is called in task manager)

 

I'm hoping to be able to leave it enabled during normal operation, and if it causes problems, then disable it without having to restart AutoCAD.

[paullimapa]

Again my recommendation as in my previous post is to contact the developer. Let them know the issue that their app causes so that they can come up with a solution.

[rick_sewell]

Hi Joel,

You can deactivate the license.

Settings | Help | Manage License | Deactivate

You can then go right back in and activate it when you're ready to use it.

PS: We haven't had anyone else report the issue, but the issue was reproduced with your files. As elusive as the issue is, it seems clear there is something to fix.

[cadffm]

@joelmNKB6B  😊

I was kind enough to write to support, above you can see the answer (Rick) including the workaround you asked for (not tested by me)

thx2Rick

[joelmNKB6B]

Thanks all,

I have been in contact with their support for months and they have been super helpful, but we were never able to pinpoint why this is happening. I have tried disabling the license - this did work, but there were incessant pop-ups telling me to activate the license which was worse than the original problem. If I could find a way to disable the pop-ups then this would be a workable solution.

A workaround solution such as having the app disabled by default, but being able to easily enable it when needed would also work. Thanks everyone for your help so far!

[rick_sewell]

Hey Joel,

We have an update. The programmer working on your issue was not able reproduce the issue you reported. However, he did produce something similar that is in the same ballpark. He is going to fix that issue there and then provide a new build of the product to see if it also solves your issue. I expect this will get to you very soon.

[joelmNKB6B]

Fantastic! I will look forward to trying this new build. Thanks for all your help so far!