ACC1x: Cannot Paste Data from Clipboard Using DDE

• Microsoft Access versions 1.0, 1.1

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to paste data into a dynamic data exchange (DDE) server application from Microsoft Access, the process does not complete correctly and the following error message is generated:

   The other application won't perform the DDE method or operation you
   attempted.

If you are using Microsoft Excel as your DDE server application, the error message "Cannot paste data" will appear in Microsoft Excel.

CAUSE

Microsoft Access does not "render," or place, the data on the Clipboard until an application requests the data for pasting. (This technique provides improved performance with large pieces of data.) When Microsoft Access issues the DDEExecute command to tell the DDE server application to paste the data, it waits for that command to finish before allowing any other operation to take place. When the DDE server application receives the paste command, it requests that Microsoft Access place the data on the Clipboard. However, Microsoft Access will not do this because it is waiting for the DDEExecute command to finish.

RESOLUTION

The following sample Access Basic function called RenderClipboard() can be called to force Microsoft Access to render the data to the Clipboard before issuing the DDEExecute command:

NOTE: This article assumes that you are familiar with Access Basic and with creating Microsoft Access applications using the programming tools provided with Microsoft Access. For more information on Access Basic, please refer to the "Introduction to Programming" manual.

NOTE: You may have some Microsoft Windows API functions defined in an existing Microsoft Access library; therefore, your declarations may be duplicates. If you receive a duplicate procedure name error message, remove or comment out the declarations statement in your code.

NOTE: In the following sample code, an underscore (_) is used as a line- continuation character. Remove the underscore when re-creating this code in Access Basic.

   '*********************************************************
   ' MODULE DECLARATION SECTION
   '*********************************************************
   Declare Function OpenClipboard% Lib "User" (ByVal hWnd%)
   Declare Function GetClipboardData% Lib "User" (ByVal wFormat%)
   Declare Function CloseClipboard% Lib "User" ()

   Global Const CF_TEXT = 1

   Function RenderClipboard ()
       Dim RetVal As Integer
       RetVal = OpenClipboard(0)
       RetVal = GetClipboardData(CF_TEXT)
       RetVal = CloseClipboard()
   End Function

1. Start Microsoft Word for Windows. The default document Document1 should be open.

2. Start Microsoft Access. Open the sample database NWIND.MDB.

3. Create a new module, and enter the following Access Basic function:

         Function CopyRecordToWinword ()
            Dim RetVal, Chan
   
            ' Copy the current record to the clipboard
            DoCmd DoMenuItem A_FORMBAR, A_EDITMENU, A_SELECTRECORD
            DoCmd DoMenuItem A_FORMBAR, A_EDITMENU, A_COPY
   
            RetVal = RenderClipboard()
   
            Chan = DDEInitiate("winword", "Document1")
            DDEExecute Chan, "[EditPaste]"
            DDETerminate Chan
         End Function
   
   

4. Open the Customers form in Design view and add a command button with the following properties:

         Caption: Copy to Record
         OnPush: =CopyRecordToWinword()
   

5. Change to Form view, and choose the Copy To Winword button. The record will be pasted into the Word for Windows document.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Access versions 1.0 and 1.1. This problem no longer occurs in Microsoft Access version 2.0.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Behavior