Original Message:
Sent: Fri April 18, 2025 01:34 PM
From: Curtis Browning
Subject: How to copy & paste text between SPSS and other applications
Hi @Bruce Weaver. What version of Statistics for MacOS does your colleague have? We made changes between versions 29 and 30. Thus far no one on our team has seen the issue on MacOS with the most recent code, and the kinds of general OS issues described on Windows above have not been found on MacOS.
If OTOH, your colleague is able to reproduce the problem using version 30 on MacOS, we would much appreciate any replication steps that you can provide.
Regards,
Curtis
------------------------------
Curtis Browning
SPSS Statistics Architect
Original Message:
Sent: Fri April 18, 2025 12:30 PM
From: Bruce Weaver
Subject: How to copy & paste text between SPSS and other applications
FYI, one of my colleagues who uses SPSS for the Mac also experiences this copy-paste problem. Are you saying you have not been able to reproduce it using the Mac version?
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Bruce Weaver
Original Message:
Sent: Thu April 17, 2025 08:57 AM
From: Curtis Browning
Subject: How to copy & paste text between SPSS and other applications
To our loyal IBM SPSS Statistics customers: We are still working on this issue, and there is both good and bad news to report about it:
We have under limited conditions conditions been able to reproduce the problem on Windows. We are still working on discovering the triggers and developing solutions, but please also see below.
The bad news is that this appears to be a long-standing Windows clipboard issue that affects other products and customers as well. Apparently it has been around for awhile and various solutions have been proposed by third parties. Thus far we have not been able to develop a viable work-around other than simply restarting the program, but we haven't given up and are still working on a C++ solution that circumvents the Java clipboard.
Some links for reference:
I wanted to share the above information with all users who have been affected by this problem. We are now writing a native C++ DLL (for Windows only) to circumvent Java, and also adding retry logic to the copy and paste functionality in an effort to work around this Windows issue. That change will be in the upcoming version 31 release at the end of June of this year. However it appears that this is a general Windows issue that will require fixes from Microsoft.
Thanks to everyone for their patience and help in tracking down this issue.
------------------------------
Curtis Browning
SPSS Statistics Architect
Original Message:
Sent: Tue April 15, 2025 03:34 PM
From: Chris Keran
Subject: How to copy & paste text between SPSS and other applications
I'm very interested in the outcome of this, and also willing to jump on a call if that would be helpful.
------------------------------
Chris Keran
Original Message:
Sent: Mon March 31, 2025 09:29 AM
From: Curtis Browning
Subject: How to copy & paste text between SPSS and other applications
Hi @Carolyn Stapleton, thanks for your kind offer to help. We were not able to reach the other user, so a Zoom call with you would be very helpful. Please send me a message at brownicu@us.ibm.com and we will make arrangements to work with you on this issue.
Best regards,
Curtis
------------------------------
Curtis Browning
SPSS Statistics Architect
Original Message:
Sent: Fri March 28, 2025 04:12 PM
From: Carolyn Stapleton
Subject: How to copy & paste text between SPSS and other applications
Hi Curtis,
Yes, this clipboard issue is still present in SPSS 30. I see in a different thread that, about a month ago, you asked for someone to zoom so your team could see the issue in action. Do you still need that?
If so, I will happily email you when it happens to volunteer... though I won't want to hold my work up indefinitely. Wanna try?
It's worth my time to help in any way to get this resolved.
Best, Carolyn
From you in other thread:
"Unfortunately I am unable to respond to private messages sent via the Statistics Community. Can you email me directly please at brownicu@us.ibm.com and we can setup a Zoom or Teams call with our QA in Kochi, India? That seems the best way to proceed. I will be there as well."
------------------------------
Carolyn Stapleton
Original Message:
Sent: Mon February 10, 2025 04:17 PM
From: Curtis Browning
Subject: How to copy & paste text between SPSS and other applications
Thank you Chris, I have added this information to the defect and have asked that an engineer reach out to you if they still cannot reproduce.
Best,
---------------------------------------
Curtis Browning
IBM SPSS Statistics Architect
brownicu@us.ibm.com
---------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 2/10/2025 4:01:00 PM
From: Chris Keran
Subject: RE: How to copy & paste text between SPSS and other applications
Hi Curtis,
Just wanted to add to others scenarios. I often cut and paste from MS File Explorer (copying the file path or the file name) into SPSS and that is when this issue comes up primarily for me (also occurs between Word/Excel or it seems any other program too). I'm obviously using Windows (v11 but happened with v10 as well).
This happens pretty systematically for me (and my team) soon after using SPSS, perhaps say within 5 minutes, so I'd be glad to jump on a Zoom call or something and share my screen so that you or the Tech Team can witness this behavior.
Chris
------------------------------
Chris Keran
Original Message:
Sent: Mon February 10, 2025 03:43 PM
From: Curtis Browning
Subject: How to copy & paste text between SPSS and other applications
Hi @Ki Park, thank you for this information. We are still having difficulty reproducing this in version 30, but I have added your description above to the defect report and we will continue to try and reproduce it.
Can you confirm please whether you are using the Windows or the MacOS version of Statistics please?
Thank you,
------------------------------
Curtis Browning
SPSS Statistics Architect
Original Message:
Sent: Fri February 07, 2025 02:08 PM
From: Ki Park
Subject: How to copy & paste text between SPSS and other applications
Hi Curtis,
I thought that I would share a particular 'misbehavior' with the copy and paste.
This is between syntax file and a Google document I experienced yesterday. And, it is related to the use of drop-down menu that I mentioned in the previous post.
Again, I have been working in a SPSS dataset and working with a syntax file for a while. I wrote a small code that I wanted to save it into our Google doc as potential 'solution' for similar issues in the data cleaning/management (this is the Google drive where we archive some solutions that we can use in other projects). So, I was trying to use Ctr+C from SPSS, and Ctr+V into Google doc. The Ctr+C part will not work in the syntax file regardless of the size of the code that I wanted to copy. This is the scenario where the drop-down menu (from the SPSS menu bar or right-click mouse) and choosing "copy" will allow to go to Google doc and use the Ctr+V (no need to use drop-down here). This behavior is pretty consistent and it happens in other programs such as the one I mentioned in the previous post.
I hope that this helps to recreate the issues on your team.
Thanks again for looking at this issue.
Ki
------------------------------
Ki Park
Original Message:
Sent: Wed February 05, 2025 09:59 AM
From: Curtis Browning
Subject: How to copy & paste text between SPSS and other applications
Hi @Ki Park,
Thanks for this information. This is the first I've heard of this problem in version 30. I have filed a defect with the steps you have provided and we will have our QA try to reproduce it.
Best regards,
------------------------------
Curtis Browning
SPSS Statistics Architect
Original Message:
Sent: Thu January 30, 2025 10:12 AM
From: Ki Park
Subject: How to copy & paste text between SPSS and other applications
Hi Curtis,
I installed the V 30 a few months ago, and I can tell you that this problem continues. The problem happens after some time as has been mentioned. Yesterday, I was attempting to 'insert' many text files from a survey of n=2000+ and because the mode of data collection was with a paper booklet, I had hundred of lines that was created in multiple Excel sheets (using CONCAT function). The code was simple, but the texts were long and some of them in Spanish:
IF survey_ID=1234 and Person_ID=9876 OpenResponse1="El servicio era muy malo y la niña tuvo una reacción inesperada".
IF survey_ID=4321 and Person_ID=6789 OpenResponse1="I had a great experience with the service manager".
There was a point Ctr+C - Ctr+V stopped working from Excel to SPSS. However, within the SPSS environment these key strokes would work. And, I would realize that it stopped working because the SPSS will paste only the Ctr+C values/texts that have been the last action within SPSS.
This behavior, I believe, is triggered when Ctr+C - Ctr+V are alternating (within the SPSS only -e.g. multiple syntaxfiles-, and Excel to SPSS).
The way around this:
-save all, and restart the SPSS: Always works, but I never do when I am in the mist of programming time.
-Use the drop down menu (no keyboard): only in some circumstances (which is hard to describe here) works.
-First, use the drop-down menu (NO keyboards) to copy and paste a new "space" in a syntax file, then the Ctr+C + Ctr+V from Excel to SPSS will work until you alternate, to the copy and paste within the SPSS. In older versions (V24-25?) a Ctr+C - Ctr+V of 'nothing' in SPSS used to the trick. Yet, this one stopped working in V29 for me.
I have focused on what happened yesterday, with Excel-SPSS only, but this behavior happens with Word, NoteTab, NotePad, etc.
I hope this helps to replicate the issue on your end.
KP
------------------------------
Ki Park
Original Message:
Sent: Thu January 23, 2025 02:32 PM
From: Curtis Browning
Subject: How to copy & paste text between SPSS and other applications
Hi @Chris Keran,
It's been awhile since we looked at this and I certainly hope it is fixed in version 30. Since I don't have your original posting in this thread, can you humor me please and describe the steps needed to reproduce the problem on Windows 11 using 29.0.2? I want to make sure this has been fixed.
FWIW, when this first came up, I personally looked through the code and found a special internal clipboard that was setup to try and ensure that the locale used to format numbers on the clipboard was correct. Turns out that code caused problems such as the one described above, and we had it removed. Now the clipboard handling is much more straight-forward, so if on the outside chance we are able to reproduce what you are seeing with the newest version, it should be fairly easy to address. At this point however, the numeric formatting for clipboard numbers appears to be working correctly, and the mysterious internal clipboard has been removed.
------------------------------
Curtis Browning
SPSS Statistics Architect
Original Message:
Sent: Thu January 23, 2025 12:00 PM
From: Chris Keran
Subject: How to copy & paste text between SPSS and other applications
Hello all,
Getting a complete fix on this would be FANTASTIC.
I was part of that previous post provided by Frank Furter and I am still having this issue, and I'm now on v29.0.2 (installed locally on Windows 11). However, the frequency is now basically every time I use SPSS, and it can happen immediately. Also, it used to be the case that as a workaround, I could copy something from Data Editor into the syntax window, which would then allow me to copy from outside SPSS and paste into a syntax window. This workaround now doesn't work (at least sometimes it doesn't work) whereas before it would always work.
------------------------------
Chris Keran
Original Message:
Sent: Thu May 25, 2023 05:00 PM
From: Curtis Browning
Subject: How to copy & paste text between SPSS and other applications
Thank you @Frank Furter , that is helpful information and I have added it to the defect report about this.
Best,
------------------------------
Curtis Browning
SPSS Statistics Architect
Original Message:
Sent: Thu May 25, 2023 09:35 AM
From: Frank Furter
Subject: How to copy & paste text between SPSS and other applications
Hi @Curtis Browning,
in your post above, you have recommended that
> When you experience this problem, try copying some dummy text to the clipboard from the Syntax Editor window.
As already mentioned, this does not resolve the issue. However, when I copy some dummy text from a Data Editor window, this restores the SPSS clipboard to the 'normal', expected stated where I can copy & paste between a Syntax window and other applications outside SPSS.
HTH finding resolution!
------------------------------
Frank Furter
Original Message:
Sent: Tue May 23, 2023 12:46 PM
From: Curtis Browning
Subject: How to copy & paste text between SPSS and other applications
Hi @Frank Furter,
Hmm... that is indeed strange. I am not able to reproduce the effect you are describing, although I can reproduce what I saw from the code. Looking closely at the code it still isn't clear to me how you could get into a state that you cannot get out of. It would be very helpful if you can describe the steps to reproduce this problem.
Thanks,
Curtis
------------------------------
Curtis Browning
SPSS Statistics Architect
Original Message:
Sent: Tue May 23, 2023 01:48 AM
From: Frank Furter
Subject: How to copy & paste text between SPSS and other applications
@ Curtis Browning:
Thank you for jumping in. When SPSS is in a state where copying & pasting from another application does not work, the issue is not resolved by copying some 'dummy' text from a syntax editor window. The 'dummy' text also does not show on the Windows clipboard and cannot be pasted into applications outside SPSS. I've also noticed that in this state, you cannot copy & paste from another application to one of SPSS' open or save file dialogs (e.g., a path copied from a file manager to save typing).
------------------------------
Frank Furter
Original Message:
Sent: Wed May 17, 2023 12:20 PM
From: Curtis Browning
Subject: How to copy & paste text between SPSS and other applications
Hi @Frank Furter ,
I took a quick look at the code and I think I see the problem. At some time in the past someone put in code to try and preserve the proper decimal symbol (comma versus period) when copying data from the data editor and the decimal symbol of the SPSS Locale does not equal the decimal symbol of the system locale. In those cases only, an additional clipboard format is added to the system clipboard, and code in the Syntax Editor prefers this format when found.
I have filed a defect on this issue, but in the meantime, the following steps should enable you to work around the issue.
- When you experience this problem, try copying some dummy text to the clipboard from the Syntax Editor window. That should have the effect of clearing any previous clipboard formats put up there by the Data Editor. Then you should be able to go to an external application, copy some string data, and paste it into the Syntax window.
HTH,
------------------------------
Curtis Browning
SPSS Statistics Architect
Original Message:
Sent: Tue May 16, 2023 02:36 AM
From: Frank Furter
Subject: How to copy & paste text between SPSS and other applications
David:
As I have already written, the error does not always occur. However, when it does occur, neither Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V nor the mouse combination work. I run SPSS on two dedicated systems (desktop and notebook; no virtiualization), and the issue appears on both. This has been around for quite a while, across several versions of SPSS and across several machines that were all installed from scratch.
When I try to copy & paste from another application (e.g., Notepad, Word, ...) to an SPSS syntax window (note that apparently only syntax windows are affected) the text that I am trying to get across is shown on the Windows clipboard (which you can see using the Windows+V combination) but it cannot be pasted into the syntax window. My conclusion is that this is a paste issue, not a copy issue.
Interestingly, when I copy & past text from one SPSS syntax window to another and, after that, try to copy & paste from some other application to an SPSS syntax window, SPSS will still paste the text string previously copied from the syntax window even though the Windows clipboart history shows the string copied from the other application (whereas the clipboard history does not show the string copied from the SPSS syntax window).
As Jon describes in his post above, the issue is more likely to appear when the system has been running for a 'longer' period of time. Other than Jon, I do not recall ever having had problems with pasting from one SPSS systax window to another.
Anyway, it seems that Jon and I are not the only SPSS users with this issue - please see this thread that I found in the last IBM TechXchange Community Weekly Consolidated Digest of May 14.
------------------------------
Frank Furter
Original Message:
Sent: Mon May 15, 2023 03:51 PM
From: David Dwyer
Subject: How to copy & paste text between SPSS and other applications
Hi @Frank Furter
You have me at a loss, as I am unable to replicate the behavior you describe. I am able to right-click and copy then right-click and paste. I am able to CTRL+C to copy and CTRL+V to paste. I can do this between the IBM SPSS Statistics Syntax Editor and Notepad++, Notepad, Wordpad, MS Word, etc.
- Do these key combinations also fail for you?
- Does the mouse combination fail?
- Is your environment virtualized in some way rather than being a dedicated laptop/desktop installation?
------------------------------
David Dwyer
SPSS Technical Support
IBM Software
Original Message:
Sent: Fri May 05, 2023 05:02 AM
From: Frank Furter
Subject: How to copy & paste text between SPSS and other applications
I run SPSS (currently version 29) on a PC under Windows 10 Prof. 64-bit. For several versions of SPSS, I have noticed that it is usually not possible to copy & paste text between an SPSS syntax window and other Windows applications, e. g., Notepad or any other non-SPSS text editor - sometimes it works, but most of the time it doesn't. Moreover, when I look at the contents of the Windows clipboard (using the Windows key + V), text copied from an SPSS syntax window does not show in the clipboard history. However, copying & pasting between different windows within SPSS always works. Interestingly, I can also copy & paste text between SPSS output, data, or script windows and non-SPSS applicatiions, i.e., the issue appears to be limited to syntax windows only.
Does the SPSS syntax window use its own clipboard? How can I copy & paste between SPSS and other applications (without opening the 'other' files in an SPSS syntax window)?
------------------------------
Frank Furter
------------------------------