Mailing List Archive

Copy-Paste problems between Windows<-->Real VNC session
Hi,

We have been facing this issue since long. Frequently, windows to VNC
session copy-paste stopping and some times even restarting the VNC session
doesn't help.

I could see from source code that there is a buffer limit:
From unix/common/rfb/SMsgReader.cxx : static IntParameter
maxCutText("MaxCutText", "Maximum permitted length of an incoming clipboard
update", 256*1024);

From unix/unix/tx/TXWindow.cxx : XGetWindowProperty(dpy, win(),
ev->xselection.property, 0, 16384, True, AnyPropertyType, &type, &format,
&nitems, &after, &data);

I don't know why this limit is? Can't Real VNC just reset the buffer once
limit is reached or overwrite previous clipboard contents?

Could any one please suggest any permanent solution for this. Any idea to
avoid or debug this problems would be really appreciated.

Thanks,
Paresh
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Re: Copy-Paste problems between Windows<-->Real VNC session [ In reply to ]
I have been using autocutsel in my xstartup in Xvnc:

exec /usr/bin/autocutsel &

I used to be able to copy/paste between Windows and VNC, but not anymore.
It also seems that in Gnome on Ubuntu I cannot copy/paste between an XTerm
window in VNC and an XTerm outside of VNC. Copy/paste within VNC is
working fine between Firefox and XTerm and even with Windows XP in Virtual
Box.

What else should I try?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

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Re: Copy-Paste problems between Windows<-->Real VNC session [ In reply to ]
Mike,

It seems there is no problem from Real VNC side but it might be related how
Window<->VNC clipboard exchange work. The limit I mentioned is for single
selection but there is no limit after which copy-pasting stops working
altogether. I feel there is something happening in internally such that
Windows is stopping sharing clipboard with running application like Real
VNC, Exceed or other VNC commercial. That's a reason after restarting the
Real VNC session, it starts working again.

I guess the things should happened like below:

VNC to Windows work because clipboard contents will be stored on Windows
memory that could be fetch by Windows clipboard fetching application. VNC to
VNC works because Real VNC Viewer will handle clipboard copy-pasting and
Windows will not come into picture but it will fail only Windows to VNC
because Windows will not share (I guess not sure) clipboard contents with
VNC session.

If some one especially Real VNC people can throw some guidance here then it
would really help to solve this issue.

I am not sure how "exec /usr/bin/autocutsel" helped you.

Thanks,
Paresh

On Tue, May 19, 2009 at 9:58 PM, Mike Miller
<mbmiller+l@gmail.com<mbmiller%2Bl@gmail.com>
> wrote:

> I have been using autocutsel in my xstartup in Xvnc:
>
> exec /usr/bin/autocutsel &
>
> I used to be able to copy/paste between Windows and VNC, but not anymore.
> It also seems that in Gnome on Ubuntu I cannot copy/paste between an XTerm
> window in VNC and an XTerm outside of VNC. Copy/paste within VNC is
> working fine between Firefox and XTerm and even with Windows XP in Virtual
> Box.
>
> What else should I try?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Mike
>
> _______________________________________________
> VNC-List mailing list
> VNC-List@realvnc.com
> To remove yourself from the list visit:
> http://www.realvnc.com/mailman/listinfo/vnc-list
>
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RE: Copy-Paste problems between Windows<-->Real VNC session [ In reply to ]
Paresh,

If the specific case you're having problems with is that clipboard-transfer sometimes stops working Windows->Other then that's most likely caused by some other application on the Windows system breaking the "clipboard chain", in which case any applications registered later on in the chain stop receiving notifications of clipboard changes. Unfortunately all it takes to break the chain is for an application that is hooked into it to exit without properly unhooking from it, which is particularly likely if the application in question is in the process of crashing...

Regards,

--
Wez @ RealVNC Ltd


> -----Original Message-----
> From: vnc-list-bounces@realvnc.com [mailto:vnc-list-
> bounces@realvnc.com] On Behalf Of paresh masani
> Sent: 10 June 2009 13:10
> To: Mike Miller
> Cc: VNC List
> Subject: Re: Copy-Paste problems between Windows<-->Real VNC session
>
> Mike,
>
> It seems there is no problem from Real VNC side but it might be related
> how
> Window<->VNC clipboard exchange work. The limit I mentioned is for
> single
> selection but there is no limit after which copy-pasting stops working
> altogether. I feel there is something happening in internally such that
> Windows is stopping sharing clipboard with running application like
> Real
> VNC, Exceed or other VNC commercial. That's a reason after restarting
> the
> Real VNC session, it starts working again.
>
> I guess the things should happened like below:
>
> VNC to Windows work because clipboard contents will be stored on
> Windows
> memory that could be fetch by Windows clipboard fetching application.
> VNC to
> VNC works because Real VNC Viewer will handle clipboard copy-pasting
> and
> Windows will not come into picture but it will fail only Windows to VNC
> because Windows will not share (I guess not sure) clipboard contents
> with
> VNC session.
>
> If some one especially Real VNC people can throw some guidance here
> then it
> would really help to solve this issue.
>
> I am not sure how "exec /usr/bin/autocutsel" helped you.
>
> Thanks,
> Paresh
>
> On Tue, May 19, 2009 at 9:58 PM, Mike Miller
> <mbmiller+l@gmail.com<mbmiller%2Bl@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
>
> > I have been using autocutsel in my xstartup in Xvnc:
> >
> > exec /usr/bin/autocutsel &
> >
> > I used to be able to copy/paste between Windows and VNC, but not
> anymore.
> > It also seems that in Gnome on Ubuntu I cannot copy/paste between an
> XTerm
> > window in VNC and an XTerm outside of VNC. Copy/paste within VNC is
> > working fine between Firefox and XTerm and even with Windows XP in
> Virtual
> > Box.
> >
> > What else should I try?
> >
> > Thanks in advance.
> >
> > Mike
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > VNC-List mailing list
> > VNC-List@realvnc.com
> > To remove yourself from the list visit:
> > http://www.realvnc.com/mailman/listinfo/vnc-list
> >
> _______________________________________________
> VNC-List mailing list
> VNC-List@realvnc.com
> To remove yourself from the list visit:
> http://www.realvnc.com/mailman/listinfo/vnc-list


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Re: Copy-Paste problems between Windows<-->Real VNC session [ In reply to ]
On Wed, 10 Jun 2009, paresh masani wrote:

> If some one especially Real VNC people can throw some guidance here then
> it would really help to solve this issue.
>
> I am not sure how "exec /usr/bin/autocutsel" helped you.

My problem is that I can't copy/paste at all between VNCviewer and
anything outside of VNCviewer on either Ubuntu or Windows. I'm using Xvnc
Free Edition 4.1.1 on Ubuntu, and I'm connecting either from VNC Viewer
Free Edition 4.1.1 for X on Ubuntu, or from VNC Viewer Free Edition 4.1.3
on Windows XP. On Ubuntu, it's a direct local connection. On XP I'm
using an SSH tunnel. Xvnc is using the -localhost option.

This is what I wrote earlier:


>> I have been using autocutsel in my xstartup in Xvnc:
>>
>> exec /usr/bin/autocutsel &
>>
>> I used to be able to copy/paste between Windows and VNC, but not
>> anymore. It also seems that in Gnome on Ubuntu I cannot copy/paste
>> between an XTerm window in VNC and an XTerm outside of VNC.
>> Copy/paste within VNC is working fine between Firefox and XTerm and
>> even with Windows XP in Virtual Box.


The thing is, it used to work. I don't know why it doesn't work now.
I'm using the Ubuntu packages from synaptic for Xvnc and for the viewer in
Ubuntu.

Best,

Mike

Michael B. Miller, Ph.D.
Bioinformatics Specialist
Minnesota Center for Twin and Family Research
Department of Psychology
218 Elliott Hall
University of Minnesota
75 East River Road
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0344

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Re: Copy-Paste problems between Windows<-->Real VNC session [ In reply to ]
James,
>> other application on the Windows system breaking the "clipboard chain",
in which case any applications registered later on in the chain stop
receiving notifications of clipboard changes.

I am absolutely agree with your point. I have been researching on this and
will let you know if I found something interesting. I am wondering if it is
happening because of some other application and it is breaking the clipboard
chain then why after restarting VNC Viewer makes it works again?
Other thing is, I never faced issue in copy pasting within VNC to VNC and
VNC to Windows but it happens intermittently from Windows to VNC only.
When clipboard chain is break by some application but still VNC is able to
successfully setting clipboard again when you copy some contents from VNC
window. And you can paste it in Windows. I think once this happened then
again clipboard chain should start (as clipboard is same for windows and
VNC). Shouldn' t it? Let me know if you could suggest some points to avoid
this problem so that we could include it in next version of VNC release.

Thanks,
Paresh

On Fri, Jun 12, 2009 at 6:53 PM, James Weatherall <jnw@realvnc.com> wrote:

> Paresh,
>
> If the specific case you're having problems with is that clipboard-transfer
> sometimes stops working Windows->Other then that's most likely caused by
> some other application on the Windows system breaking the "clipboard chain",
> in which case any applications registered later on in the chain stop
> receiving notifications of clipboard changes. Unfortunately all it takes to
> break the chain is for an application that is hooked into it to exit without
> properly unhooking from it, which is particularly likely if the application
> in question is in the process of crashing...
>
> Regards,
>
> --
> Wez @ RealVNC Ltd
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: vnc-list-bounces@realvnc.com [mailto:vnc-list-
> > bounces@realvnc.com] On Behalf Of paresh masani
> > Sent: 10 June 2009 13:10
> > To: Mike Miller
> > Cc: VNC List
> > Subject: Re: Copy-Paste problems between Windows<-->Real VNC session
> >
> > Mike,
> >
> > It seems there is no problem from Real VNC side but it might be related
> > how
> > Window<->VNC clipboard exchange work. The limit I mentioned is for
> > single
> > selection but there is no limit after which copy-pasting stops working
> > altogether. I feel there is something happening in internally such that
> > Windows is stopping sharing clipboard with running application like
> > Real
> > VNC, Exceed or other VNC commercial. That's a reason after restarting
> > the
> > Real VNC session, it starts working again.
> >
> > I guess the things should happened like below:
> >
> > VNC to Windows work because clipboard contents will be stored on
> > Windows
> > memory that could be fetch by Windows clipboard fetching application.
> > VNC to
> > VNC works because Real VNC Viewer will handle clipboard copy-pasting
> > and
> > Windows will not come into picture but it will fail only Windows to VNC
> > because Windows will not share (I guess not sure) clipboard contents
> > with
> > VNC session.
> >
> > If some one especially Real VNC people can throw some guidance here
> > then it
> > would really help to solve this issue.
> >
> > I am not sure how "exec /usr/bin/autocutsel" helped you.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Paresh
> >
> > On Tue, May 19, 2009 at 9:58 PM, Mike Miller
> > <mbmiller+l@gmail.com <mbmiller%2Bl@gmail.com><mbmiller%2Bl@gmail.com<mbmiller%252Bl@gmail.com>
> >
> > > wrote:
> >
> > > I have been using autocutsel in my xstartup in Xvnc:
> > >
> > > exec /usr/bin/autocutsel &
> > >
> > > I used to be able to copy/paste between Windows and VNC, but not
> > anymore.
> > > It also seems that in Gnome on Ubuntu I cannot copy/paste between an
> > XTerm
> > > window in VNC and an XTerm outside of VNC. Copy/paste within VNC is
> > > working fine between Firefox and XTerm and even with Windows XP in
> > Virtual
> > > Box.
> > >
> > > What else should I try?
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance.
> > >
> > > Mike
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > VNC-List mailing list
> > > VNC-List@realvnc.com
> > > To remove yourself from the list visit:
> > > http://www.realvnc.com/mailman/listinfo/vnc-list
> > >
> > _______________________________________________
> > VNC-List mailing list
> > VNC-List@realvnc.com
> > To remove yourself from the list visit:
> > http://www.realvnc.com/mailman/listinfo/vnc-list
>
>
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RE: Copy-Paste problems between Windows<-->Real VNC session [ In reply to ]
Is there some kind of clipboard debugger? Something that will allow
visbility into what exactly is happening with the clipboard data?

-Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: vnc-list-bounces@realvnc.com [mailto:vnc-list-bounces@realvnc.com]
On Behalf Of paresh masani
Sent: Friday, June 12, 2009 2:32 PM
To: james.weatherall@realvnc.com
Cc: Mike Miller; VNC List
Subject: Re: Copy-Paste problems between Windows<-->Real VNC session

James,
>> other application on the Windows system breaking the "clipboard
chain",
in which case any applications registered later on in the chain stop
receiving notifications of clipboard changes.

I am absolutely agree with your point. I have been researching on this
and
will let you know if I found something interesting. I am wondering if it
is
happening because of some other application and it is breaking the
clipboard
chain then why after restarting VNC Viewer makes it works again?
Other thing is, I never faced issue in copy pasting within VNC to VNC
and
VNC to Windows but it happens intermittently from Windows to VNC only.
When clipboard chain is break by some application but still VNC is able
to
successfully setting clipboard again when you copy some contents from
VNC
window. And you can paste it in Windows. I think once this happened then
again clipboard chain should start (as clipboard is same for windows and
VNC). Shouldn' t it? Let me know if you could suggest some points to
avoid
this problem so that we could include it in next version of VNC release.

Thanks,
Paresh

On Fri, Jun 12, 2009 at 6:53 PM, James Weatherall <jnw@realvnc.com>
wrote:

> Paresh,
>
> If the specific case you're having problems with is that
clipboard-transfer
> sometimes stops working Windows->Other then that's most likely caused
by
> some other application on the Windows system breaking the "clipboard
chain",
> in which case any applications registered later on in the chain stop
> receiving notifications of clipboard changes. Unfortunately all it
takes to
> break the chain is for an application that is hooked into it to exit
without
> properly unhooking from it, which is particularly likely if the
application
> in question is in the process of crashing...
>
> Regards,
>
> --
> Wez @ RealVNC Ltd
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: vnc-list-bounces@realvnc.com [mailto:vnc-list-
> > bounces@realvnc.com] On Behalf Of paresh masani
> > Sent: 10 June 2009 13:10
> > To: Mike Miller
> > Cc: VNC List
> > Subject: Re: Copy-Paste problems between Windows<-->Real VNC session
> >
> > Mike,
> >
> > It seems there is no problem from Real VNC side but it might be
related
> > how
> > Window<->VNC clipboard exchange work. The limit I mentioned is for
> > single
> > selection but there is no limit after which copy-pasting stops
working
> > altogether. I feel there is something happening in internally such
that
> > Windows is stopping sharing clipboard with running application like
> > Real
> > VNC, Exceed or other VNC commercial. That's a reason after
restarting
> > the
> > Real VNC session, it starts working again.
> >
> > I guess the things should happened like below:
> >
> > VNC to Windows work because clipboard contents will be stored on
> > Windows
> > memory that could be fetch by Windows clipboard fetching
application.
> > VNC to
> > VNC works because Real VNC Viewer will handle clipboard copy-pasting
> > and
> > Windows will not come into picture but it will fail only Windows to
VNC
> > because Windows will not share (I guess not sure) clipboard contents
> > with
> > VNC session.
> >
> > If some one especially Real VNC people can throw some guidance here
> > then it
> > would really help to solve this issue.
> >
> > I am not sure how "exec /usr/bin/autocutsel" helped you.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Paresh
> >
> > On Tue, May 19, 2009 at 9:58 PM, Mike Miller
> > <mbmiller+l@gmail.com
<mbmiller%2Bl@gmail.com><mbmiller%2Bl@gmail.com<mbmiller%252Bl@gmail.com
>
> >
> > > wrote:
> >
> > > I have been using autocutsel in my xstartup in Xvnc:
> > >
> > > exec /usr/bin/autocutsel &
> > >
> > > I used to be able to copy/paste between Windows and VNC, but not
> > anymore.
> > > It also seems that in Gnome on Ubuntu I cannot copy/paste between
an
> > XTerm
> > > window in VNC and an XTerm outside of VNC. Copy/paste within VNC
is
> > > working fine between Firefox and XTerm and even with Windows XP in
> > Virtual
> > > Box.
> > >
> > > What else should I try?
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance.
> > >
> > > Mike
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > VNC-List mailing list
> > > VNC-List@realvnc.com
> > > To remove yourself from the list visit:
> > > http://www.realvnc.com/mailman/listinfo/vnc-list
> > >
> > _______________________________________________
> > VNC-List mailing list
> > VNC-List@realvnc.com
> > To remove yourself from the list visit:
> > http://www.realvnc.com/mailman/listinfo/vnc-list
>
>
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