Clipboard problem in Excel 2016

Anonymous
2016-04-16T23:39:19+00:00

I am running Excel 2016 on a Windows 10 Machine.

When I copy a cell (or cut a cell, or move a cell) I get one of two error messages:

"Cannot open the Clipboard"

"We couldn't free up space on the Clipboard.  Another program might be using it right now." 

I am then able to successfully paste what Excel told me it could not copy.  To restate for clarity...Excel throws error messages, but I am able to successfully copy and paste.

The problem is that it throws the error messages every single time I try and copy or cut or whatever.

Things I have tried:

I've ensured all other programs are not running (or using the clip board)

I've cleared the %temp% folder

I've cleared the Clipboard within Excel

Word does not have this problem...

Please help.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2017-02-28T16:18:02+00:00

Hello,

I have an update on this error dialog: “There's a problem with the clipboard, but you can still paste your content within this workbook."

When Excel shows this dialog after a copy (CTRL+C) action, it means that another app has a lock on the system clipboard.  In this situation you can still paste within Excel.  However you cannot paste to another app like Word or Outlook which uses the clipboard.

Last year we made some improvements to Office365 users so that this error message only shows once per Excel instance.  This is based on customer feedback - the design change prevents it popping up multiple successive times when the clipboard is locked.  We have also considered never showing the error dialog, but there was user feedback that this message is informative and helpful in some cases. 

We hope this helps shed some light on this error message.  For any design suggestions or new ideas on improving the Excel copy-paste experience, please post to Excel UserVoice.

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-01-10T13:33:38+00:00

    Message i receive very real very annoying

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-01-06T09:19:54+00:00

    Hi Uwe

    That is spot on. Why Microsoft can't see it is incredible.

    Steve

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-01-04T12:01:05+00:00

                [...] And this issue is still actual, now for maybe 7 or 8 months!

    You're wrong, Branislav. It is 4 years (at least).

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-12-31T10:02:59+00:00

    The BIG problem I am having is with Excel automation. Since 2002 my VB6 and VB.Net automation code has worked well and without fault. Back then, I followed the Microsoft guidelines for the implementation of the automation code. In the last 4 months I have been inundated with calls from users, because the automation is failing. Microsoft have changed things and have broken backward compatibility.

    My software automates Excel and populates one or more Spreadsheets in a Workbook with data. There is much copying and pasting. The automation now fails at random points in the processes, with various error messages. It did not do this before.

    If anyone with some technical knowledge at Microsoft is listening ..... In my case it appears to be a 'timing' issue with the clipboard. The original code used Early Binding (as recommended). I have now changed this to Late Binding. Also, before each copy, I have now inserted a 2 second delay. Before each paste, I have inserted a 2 second delay. When the Workbook is Saved and Closed, and when Excel Automation is Quit, I have inserted a 2 second delay. This appears to have overcome the problems I have been having. As I say, a timing issue seems to be the problem. I know this is not related to the manual copy and paste problems that people are reporting here, but I figure it is all related. You guys at Microsoft have change some underlying mechanism, and you need to sort it out.

    It's all very well saying it is not Excel related, or Windows 10 related and that it is something to do with some 3rd party software or device, and Windows is not responsible. The 'oh, it is not our problem, it is a problem created by some 3rd party' is not really acceptable. The operating system should be taking control and straightening out the error by whatever means.

    All I can say is that Microsoft is in control of Windows, and if a device or plug in causes havoc with the clipboard (or whatever the problem is) then Microsoft should program in a graceful solution that recognizes and deals with the problem. Putting up feeble error messages, informing the user that there is a problem, is not dealing with the problem. Simply, deal with the frigging problem.

    Steve

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