Cannot Copy and Paste To or From Enterprise Guide

[bendsteel6]

I'm using SAS EG 6.1 (running on LINUX, SAS V9.2 TS2M3). 

Recently (and this has just started happening), I'm trying to copy either from Enterprise Guide (could be from a dataset, or from a program node, or from an advanced queryfilter) to Excel or Word or even TextPad.  When I try to copy into SAS (copy from Excel, paste into SAS), my session just locks up for about a 1/2 minute, then comes back to life, but doesn't paste.  Also, when I try to copy our of SAS from a dataset or a program node (or any text, for that matter), it doesn't paste into where I'm trying to put it (Excel, Word, TextPad, etc.)

Has anyone experienced this and if so, is there something I can do to fix this?

Thanks!

[ballardw]

Any recent kernel patches or upgrades? Any new hardware? New security program?

Any time something stops working or changes behavior my first check is with IT for what they did to my computer when I wasn't watching.

[ChrisHemedinger]

Sounds like another process is interfering with your Windows clipboard. Are you running this process on Citrix? Or do you have another session open (perhaps another app) in Citrix?  There is a clipboard impact there.

Have you installed any apps recently that might hook into your clipboard?

You might need to use a 3rd party clipboard viewer to dive into what's going on. I found one here that I've used, but there are many available.  Unfortunately, Windows does not have something built in as far as I know.

[bendsteel6]

For Ballardw:

Thanks.  And yes, they are always installing stuff on our machines here, so I'm not sure what may have changed with my configuration.  But normally there are no major changes, and none that I know of recently.  I could call the help desk but what they will do is remote into my laptop, start deleting all my recent I-net history, then escalate the ticket to another group.  I may just have to call them.

For ChrisHemedinger:

I am running through CITRIX and yes I do have mutliple instances of EG open.  However, this has never been a problem before.  I've had 4 or 5 sessions up at the same time with no problem.  This just started happening last week.  I tried to download the clipboard viewer you sent but alas, they've sent me to the proxy server...I guess I'm not allowed to do that.

Regarding the "Functions restricted", I don't see anything in the lower right corner that would indicate any restrictions.

If you think of anything else, please let me know.  I may have to call the help desk.

THANKS!

[ChrisHemedinger]

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@bendsteel6 wrote:

I am running through CITRIX and yes I do have mutliple instances of EG open.  However, this has never been a problem before.  I've had 4 or 5 sessions up at the same time with no problem.  This just started happening last week.  I tried to download the clipboard viewer you sent but alas, they've sent me to the proxy server...I guess I'm not allowed to do that.

With that information, I think Citrix is the most likely culprit.  When you have a Citrix session going you have at least two clipboards: the local Windows desktop and the Citrix terminal.  That's so you can copy content from local to Citrix and vice versa.  Every copy operation puts content on both of those clipboards.

There are Citrix terminal settings that control how the clipboard works.  I'm not super familiar with them, but your IT person should know. Citrix has a troubleshooting article dedicated to this topic.

[ChrisHemedinger]

One more idea -- it's actually possible for a SAS admin to restrict some copy/paste capabilities in SAS Enterprise Guide.  Do you have a "Functions: Restricted" indicator in your status area (lower right of window)?  If so, click to see what capabilities have been controlled.

[bendsteel6]

Ok, thanks.  Guess I'm going to have to get with the CITRIX helpdesk when it happens again.  I don't have acces to modify any settings on my CITRIX page either. 😞

[TomKari]

I agree with Rick. I've seen the same kind of things with MS Office programs, but I haven't been able to deduce any pattern.

I have a funny feeling that Windows does "cut and paste" type activities one way when there's an Office program open, and a different way when there isn't.

Tom

[ChrisHemedinger]

MS Office has a suped-up clipboard.

And when you copy from a rich-text app, you usually get multiple formats on the clipboard.  RTF, plain text, perhaps HTML, as well as any graphics that you grabbed.  There's a lot going on!

[Rick_SAS]

I've experienced this in MS Office applications recently, especially Word and Excel. It seems to happen when I try to copy or cut some "rich text" that contains formatting like italics, colors, and hyperlinks.  I don't know what is causing it.  I suspect (but can't prove) that you and I are seeing different manifestations of the same underlying problem, since EG is a Windows application. I don't think this is a "SAS" issue, per se, but a larger issue that is affecting Windows applications.

I think I might also have seen this issue when cutting/pasting from SAS into the "Rich Text" editor on this Communities site. 

Does this sounds familiar to anyone else?

[bendsteel6]

Glad to know that it's not only happening to me (no offense :)).  Since it's relatively intermittent, I'll have to deal with it for now but maybe note certain 'situational circumstances' when it starts to happen again.