FMP6: Copy text string to clipboard (not field contents).

[Diana, Cda]

Hi, everyone! I hope I have this in the right forum. It seemed the best fit.

I have no trouble copying field contents to the clipboard. That seems to work very well in v6. But I need to have a button that sends a particular text string to the clipboard. That I've searched and searched online for a solution to but nothing I've tried works.

I've also downgraded my skill level to entry level. Perhaps in real life I am an intermediate, as compared to the average user, but on trying to do all this, I see that I'm actually a newbie compared to you folks so hopefully, a simple solution is possible in v6!

My version is old but because I don't use FMP at work and it does everything else just fine, I can't afford to upgrade esp. since it's not justifiable. So hopefully someone knows how to achieve having a button with non-changing text to the clipboard in v6.

Thank you!! :)

Edited July 18, 2010 by Guest

[comment]

Set a global text field to the desired text (or keep the text permanently there). Copy the global field.

[Diana, Cda]

Set a global text field to the desired text (or keep the text permanently there). Copy the global field.

See? That's why I was forced to go to "beginner" level.

I've been given this advice before for something and after going around in circles, end up right where I started. So, that's the end of it because I _am_ going to figure this out. So pls bear with me.

I have created the global field. No problem there. I set it to text and have tried both entering and not entering a number in for the number of repeating fields there might be but right away run into a problem.

This database is for background information for a word list. The list is in its beginning stages but is already past the 2500 word mark which means this repeating thing won't work properly if it's needed since it only allows up to 1000 repetitions. Yet it makes no sense to repeat the info since I just need the global field to house the clipboard text once. But keeping the repetition field blank doesn't work either. The clipboard only returns previously copied text from the clipboard. Yet the copy command works fine on regular, changing fields.

I created a layout and put this field on it but then it reacts as if it were part of the original records which makes no sense to me, either. This means to me that there could be any number of reasons why the copy function doesn't work. So again I'm stuck and I'm obviously going about this all wrong.

So, after creating the global field, what do we do for this case? I'm obviously way off base here.

Thanks much! :)

Edited July 18, 2010 by Guest

[Diana, Cda]

Found a legacy forum here. It was buried and v6 is not specifically mentioned but I'll be moving my question to over there as that makes the best sense.

Thanks! Still stuck on how to work with this global text field. Funny how obscure the PDF manual, my FMP6 help file is and references on the net. They all leave out critical steps so we get stumped every time .

Thanks.

[Diana, Cda]

(From http://fmforums.com/forum/showtopic.php?fid/36/tid/215709/pid/360780/post/last/#LAST)

I found this forum today so moving my question here.

I just can't figure out how to work with a global text field. It was what was given as advice because I want to have the ability to have a button on my database copy a text string to the clipboard. This text string doesn't change.

But after creating the global text field since there is no place to enter the text right there in the field's options, don't know what to do next.

I've looked in the help file, in a user's PDF guide I have and have done countless searches on the web.

A critical step (or two) seems to be missing in all explanations since after creating the global field, don't know what to do next.

Pls help. This is an important function for me so really need to figure it out and I keep getting nowhere and it's been over a year now with this problem in my database.

Thanks. :)

Edited July 18, 2010 by Guest

[efen]

In layout mode place the global field on any layout. Enter browse mode and enter the text required in this global field. Enter layout mode and delete the global field from the layout.

copy a text string to the clipboard.

It isn't necessary to copy this text to the clipboard - it can be used direct from the global field and entered into another field from there

Edited July 18, 2010 by Guest

[Diana, Cda]

In layout mode place the global field on any layout. Enter browse mode and enter the text required in this global field. Enter layout mode and delete the global field from the layout.

It isn't necessary to copy this text to the clipboard - it can be used direct from the global field and entered into another field from there

Ah, okay. My friend has a saying I like, "I don't know what I don't know, until I know it!". That's what has happened here.

I did various attempts at something very similar to the above, just not doing the delete field on layout step. Nothing. I did the above. Nothing.

But when I tried the script again, this time it came to me that perhaps I should add a "go to new layout" step where I put the field, set the field and then had a copy field, then had the script go back to the original layout, that finally produced a result and this worked.

So. I was working as I should, I believe, I just unknowingly wrongly assumed that "copying to the clipboard" would mean that I was trying to get information _out_of_ FMP6. Now I know. So, I just had to add the extra steps in order for this to work, I guess. So, I must remember to specify that I need the information to _really_ go to the clipboard so that it can be accessed from outside FMP. And I guess I'll always have to go to the layout, set the field and return to the originating layout since nothing else actually copies the global field's contents or any other type of field unless I do all of that. At least, as far as I can see.

So, I guess I just have to leave things this way and live with this clunky workaround.

There are two global fields on this layout for two pieces of repetitive information I need to use outside of FMP6 so that I don't have to keep typing the same text strings out.

I'll just hide this layout. It'll be protected that way from overwriting.

I can live with this. Clunky and very inelegant but it's the first thing that has worked.

Thank you!! I'll keep entering data into the database and will this way continue to test this. Hope it keeps working .

:)

Edited July 18, 2010 by Guest

[bruceR]

And I guess I'll always have to go to the layout, set the field and return to the originating layout since nothing else actually copies the global field's contents or any other type of field unless I do all of that. At least, as far as I can see.

The global field can be placed on any layout; which means you do not necessarily need to switch layouts.

You can SET the global field with the set field script step, from anywhere. But to copy to the clipboard as you note, you do need to go to a layout that contains the global field and use the COPY or CUT script step. I'd suggest CUT actually as then you do not need to leave the global field with all this data visible.

Further, you can use the Freeze Window script step so the user never even sees the field flash.

Set field [ gWhatever; some data]

Freeze Window

Cut [ gWhatever ]

Commit Record

You can even hide the global field under a button.

[Lee Smith]

Leave your question HERE!

The legecy topics are the General Topic for each version. Their purpose is to discuss the new features and functions unique to that release of FileMaker, and not for asking How-to questions.

Lee

[comment]

I just unknowingly wrongly assumed that "copying to the clipboard" would mean that I was trying to get information _out_of_ FMP6.

Can you explain what exactly are you trying to achieve here? Placing data on the user's clipboard should NOT be necessary, unless you ARE trying to get information out of your Filemaker solution and paste it into another application.