"Can't open clipboard for writing"

[Micha]

I use an Autohotkey script that inserts a short phrase into the clipboard (to prevent long phrases previously in the clipboard from being there) and then inserts an entry from CTRL C if any. The program then opens a dictionary and uses this info.

The relevant code at the beginning is:

Code: Select all

Clipboard=qx
ClipWait
Sleep, 300
SendInput, ^c
ClipWait
Sleep, 300
Clipboard = %Clipboard% ; remove any leading or trailing spaces
ClipWait

The program has worked fine on my desktop and a previous laptop with Windows 10 64-bit.

I now have a new laptop, and the exact same program frequently produces an error "can't open clipboard for writing", pointing to this clipboard area of the Autohotkey program, and then terminates Autohotkey.

I typed this into Google and see that there were some problems with this years ago, but they were never solved on these forums.

Is a previous program not releasing the clipboard? Is something else going on? Thanks in advance for any insight.

[RickC]

If you want to clear the clipboard just use clipboard =.

[jeeswg]

- Try this to get info about the process that last used the clipboard.

Code: Select all

q:: ;get info about the process that last used/is using the clipboard
DetectHiddenWindows, On
vOutput := ""

Loop, 2
{
	if (A_Index = 1)
		hWnd := DllCall("GetClipboardOwner", Ptr)
	else
		hWnd := DllCall("GetOpenClipboardWindow", Ptr)
	WinGet, vPName, ProcessName, % "ahk_id " hWnd
	WinGetClass, vWinClass, % "ahk_id " hWnd
	WinGetTitle, vWinTitle, % "ahk_id " hWnd
	vOutput .= vPName "`r`n" vWinClass "`r`n" vWinTitle "`r`n`r`n"
}

vOutput := SubStr(vOutput, 1, -2)
Clipboard := vOutput
MsgBox, % vOutput
return

- Perhaps two AutoHotkey scripts are trying to access the clipboard at the same time.
- Also, I once had an issue with the Gdip library.
- Btw are you the same Micha that wrote this script? Cheers.
Get Info from Context Menu (x64/x32 compatible) - AutoHotkey Community
https://autohotkey.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=31971

[Micha]

RickC & jeeswg: Thanks!

jeeswg: No, I'm not that Micha. Unfortunately, because he seems to know quite a bit about Autohotkey.

I haven't gotten your script to really work yet; I just get a blank message box w/ no info. I'm going to keep at it.

[jeeswg]

I've added the line DetectHiddenWindows, On to the script above, just in case that helps to reveal something.

[BunInOven]

I've added the line DetectHiddenWindows, On to the script above, just in case that helps to reveal something.

if the last copy was done in chrome i think thats why he gets blank box

[Guest]

1. Why not get rid of ClipWait, the Sleeps should be enough.

2. Are you sure you're not running any sort of Clipboard tool that monitors the clipboard?

3. Does it happen if you close the dictionary program (it must not be running). If it works then the dictionary program might be "blocking" it - Excel for example sometimes causes issues for me when manipulating data in the Clipboard.