Get text from clipboard using GetText - avoid error on empty clipboard
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19-04-2021 - |
Question
I'm using code like this to get text from off the Clipboard.
Dim DataObj As New MSForms.DataObject
DataObj.GetFromClipboard
myString = DataObj.GetText
I use error handling to get the past the case where the Clipboard is empty, and everything is fine as long as I keep Error Trapping set to Break on Unhandled Errors.
However, for unrelated reasons I want to set Error Trapping to Break on All Errors, and this throws an error at DataObj.GetText
when it finds the empty Clipboard. Is there any kind of test I can apply further upstream to avoid trying to process an empty Clipboard?
Solution
Handle the errors with On Error GoTo
as shown here:
Sub GetClipBoardText()
Dim DataObj As MSForms.DataObject
Set DataObj = New MsForms.DataObject '<~~ Amended as per jp's suggestion
On Error GoTo Whoa
'~~> Get data from the clipboard.
DataObj.GetFromClipboard
'~~> Get clipboard contents
myString = DataObj.GetText(1)
MsgBox myString
Exit Sub
Whoa:
If Err <> 0 Then MsgBox "Data on clipboard is not text or is empty"
End Sub
You will notice that it will handle an empty clipboard as well.
NB: to make the code work, you must have a reference to "Microsoft Forms 2.0 Object Library" (this file can be found at C:\windows\system32\FM20.dll
on 32-bit machines, or at C:\Windows\sysWOW64\FM20.dll
on 64-bit machines), otherwise you'd get the error "User-Defined type not defined".
You can empty the clipboard before testing the above code by using the code below. Please paste it in a module.
Private Declare Function OpenClipboard Lib "User32.dll" _
(ByVal hWndNewOwner As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function EmptyClipboard Lib "User32.dll" () As Long
Private Declare Function CloseClipboard Lib "User32.dll" () As Long
Public Sub ClearClipboard()
Dim Ret
Ret = OpenClipboard(0&)
If Ret <> 0 Then Ret = EmptyClipboard
CloseClipboard
End Sub
EDIT: you may also determine if the clipboard is empty by using this code:
Private Declare Function CountClipboardFormats Lib "user32" () As Long
Sub Sample()
If (CountClipboardFormats() = 0) = True Then
MsgBox "Clipboard is empty"
Else
MsgBox "Clipboard is not empty"
End If
End Sub
OTHER TIPS
add the follwoing code just b4 the breaking line for debuging.... the error disapeared for me after that test.. wierd but it somehow works (Excel 2010)
myString = DataObj.GetText(1)
MsgBox myString