Can't copy control to clipboard

[tfurnivall]

So, this is obviously a newbie problem. However, I can't find any help using such searches as "Copy control to clipboard", hence this thread.

I'm trying to copy a control to the clipboard.

It isn't working!

I have an otherwise empty form with a single label (lblUserID) which is not bound to any data structure. I open the Home group on the ribbon, and open the Clipboard side-panel, then select the control.

Properties appear on the right hand edge of the screen. I'm confident that the control is selected. In addition, Copy becomes available, on the ribbon. I click the Copy icon and...

...nothing happens. I know this because:

i) Paste does not become available
ii) Ctrl/V doesn't do anything
iii) The clipboard side-panel doesn't show any signs of having been changed.

OK - enough with the detailed steps already. I could do this in Access 97, and I can do it in Excel 2010. I'm prepared to bet a large amount (at least $5) that I can do this in Access, somehow. Question is,

How do I copy a control to the clipboard.

Tony

PS Possible solutions I've already tried and rejected for one reason or another include:

Form must be named
Control must be named
Programmer should be retired on the basis of evident senility

Thanks for your help!

 

[spikepl]

Which clipboard? My Office clipboard says Item Not Collected, Format Not Supported by Office Clipboard. Jus because you don't see it there, it does not mean that it has not been stored in Access' own.

 

[tfurnivall]

Thanks for the response, Spikepl.

Short answer to your question is "I don't know"! Whatever the default clipboard is, I guess. For example, Microsoft Access 2010 Bible (p. 281) says: "You can create copies of any control by copying it to the Clipboard, and then pasting the copies where you want them." It conveniently omits how to do this, but that's the clipboard I want to get at - the one that will accept controls ;-)

The acid test, for me is, "Can I now paste it somewhere" (like the surface of the same form). Short answer is "No". ergo I assume that the copy hasn't taken place. This is backed up by the absence of any kind of visual feedback in the Clipboard side-panel - or whatever it's called).

It would be great to hear from someone who has actually done this - and I have to believe that that's millions of people!

Tony

 

[spikepl]

It is not backed up by no such thing - because the clipboard you are viewing is a different animal.

My A2007 works just fine with copy/paste. How EXACTLY are you attempting to copy a control to clipboard and back onto your form?

 

[tfurnivall]

Problem solved!

It was, as I suspected a newbie problem.

Hunting around to see if there was a toolbox that I could open up, I checked the View pane on the ribbon. Lo and behold, there was an option for Design view. Silly me thought that I was already there because I was able to design a new form by adding a new control.

Noper - just like earlier versions of Access (and, indeed Office), you have to be in design view to manipulate the design.

Fortunately, I will transfer the winnings (losings/) from my wager to myself, and retire very red-faced, to continue my "getting-to-know-you" visit with Access 2010.

Thanks to Spikepl for his help, and hope to see you all around!

Tony

 

[missinglinq]

...me thought that I was already there (Design View) because I was able to design a new form by adding a new control.

Not just a newby problem! The new (to versions 2007/2010) Layout View is confusing to to people going from 2003 or previous to those versions!

In this case, if it flies like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...it apparently is an owl!

The Access guru, Allen Browne, once stated that the learning curve for an experienced Access developer, moving up to 2007, was twice as big as the learning curve for a complete Access novice learning 2007, simply because there was so much stuff that you had to unlearn, first, before starting to learn the new way!

Linq ;0)>

 

[tfurnivall]

Thanks, Missing!

Especially this bit:
"The Access guru, Allen Browne, once stated that the learning curve for an experienced Access developer, moving up to 2007, was twice as big as the learning curve for a complete Access novice+ learning 2007, simply because there was so much stuff that you had to unlearn, first, before starting to learn the new way!"

I use Office primarily as a proof-of-concept tool, to create a quick(-ish) prototype. Then if that works, it's a whole new ball-game for actual development. My data-storage mechanism of choice for this is Excel, because despite denormalized tables, they are all very readily accessible. Since shifting from Office 97 to Office 2010 I hadn't needed to deal with Access. And boy - has it changed!

Ah well, back to redoing all of my low-level code in the new versions. At least along the way, by doing it manually, I'll get a crash course in the differences!

Thanks again,

Tony

 

[missinglinq]

Glad we could help, Tony!

Good luck with your project!

Linq ;0)>