[Upstream] paste special intermittently does not work

[Mike Basinger]

1) lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu precise (development branch)
Release: 12.04

2) apt-cache policy libreoffice-writer
libreoffice-writer:
  Installed: 1:3.5.1-1ubuntu1
  Candidate: 1:3.5.1-1ubuntu1
  Version table:
 *** 1:3.5.1-1ubuntu1 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

3) What is expected to happen in a blank Calc document:
+ Cell A1 type:
1
+ Copy A1 and paste into A2
+ Switch to Firefox and go to https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=42466
+ Copy hyperlink and paste special into A3 and it works.

4) What happens instead is it does not.

***Closed LO, immediately opened new blank Calc file, and then above steps did not recreate bug.

Above steps not reproducible in:
lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu 11.10
Release: 11.10

apt-cache policy libreoffice-calc
libreoffice-calc:
  Installed: 1:3.4.4-0ubuntu1
  Candidate: 1:3.4.4-0ubuntu1
  Version table:
 *** 1:3.4.4-0ubuntu1 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oneiric-updates/main i386 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     1:3.4.3-3ubuntu2 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oneiric/main i386 Packages

Original Reporter Comments: OpenOffice 3.2 in Lucid.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
Package: openoffice.org-core 1:3.2.0-4ubuntu3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-19.28-generic 2.6.32.10+drm33.1
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-19-generic i686
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Architecture: i386
Date: Fri Apr 2 13:32:27 2010
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 "Lucid Lynx" - Alpha i386 (20100401)
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=en_US.utf8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: openoffice.org

[Chris Cheney (ccheney)]

Do you still have this problem with the final version of Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (Lucid)? I can't reproduce this problem on that version. When i try click paste special it pops up a box that lets me select how I want to paste the text.

[Chris Cheney (ccheney)]

I see its just a keybinding problem of some sort. Paste Special works from the menu but not via ctrl-shift-v

[Scott Enderle (scott-enderle)]

I am also having this problem intermittently. When I hit shift+ctl+v, nothing happens; nor does anything happen when I select paste special from the edit menu. But the behavior isn't consistent...

[Jon-o Addleman (jaddle)]

I've been seeing the same thing regularly. It seems that after a normal (ctrl-v) paste, paste special does nothing, from the keyboard or from the menu. I've seen this in oowriter and oocalc.

[Jon-o Addleman (jaddle)]

Forgot to mention - I'm using the latest version in Maverick. This has been happening for at least a few months though.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Mike Basinger, does this issue occur for you with LibreOffice? What specifically are you copying and then trying to special paste? Could you please attach a document that demonstrates this problem?

[Felipe Braga (fbobraga-gmail)]

The same here (intermittently): sometimes, when I hit shift+ctl+v, nothing happens; nor does anything happen when I select paste special from the edit menu. But the behavior isn't consistent - with the same text copied, in the clipboard, if I close and reopen 'libreoffice -calc', it (the ctrl+shift+v) will (probably) work

[rpr nospam (rpr-nospam)]

I'm affected by this in LibreOffice 3.4.3 (OOO340m1 Build:302) on
Ubuntu 11.04 64-bit. As mentioned above, the behaviour is
inconsistent.

I was working in Writer when this started to occur. Then I tried the
following steps:

(1) Close all Writer windows.

(2) Open a new blank document in Writer.

(3) Open gedit and write some text, select it and invoke Copy command.

(4) In Writer invoke the Paste command which works as expected.

(5) In Writer invoke the Paste Special command (either via the File
menu using the shortcut) - nothing happens.

But after I tried the same steps a few more times the Paste Special command
came back to normal.

[Rolf Broberg (rolf-9)]

I have this problem frequently on LibreOffice 3.3.3, OOO330m19 (Build:301), tag libreoffice-3.3.3.1, Ubuntu package 1:3.3.3-1ubuntu2.

When I copy snippets from web pages (in Firefox) and use Paste Special in LibreOffice, it works to begin with. Then it stops working, although I try both Ctrl-Shift-V and the "Paste Special" menu item. It seems as it stops working after every auto save, but I may have seen exceptions to that.

There are different ways to get it working again:

 o Closing and reopening LibreOffice.
 o Copying some unformatted text (e.g. from gedit or terminal) and pasting it into LibreOffice with Ctrl-V.
 o Copying formatted text within LibreOffice and pasting it with Ctrl-V.

After any of these actions copy and paste special works again.

[Björn Michaelsen (bjoern-michaelsen)]

[This is an automated message.]
There are no new official OpenOffice.org releases in Ubuntu packaging anymore => Won't Fix

If the problem persists, please mark this bug as "also affects project Libreoffice" or "also affects distribution Libreoffice (Ubuntu)" if that has not happened already.

Please leave references to upstream OpenOffice.org bugs in place to allow cross pollination.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

No reference URL.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Need specific exact, step-by-step examples as requested in comment #7. Comments #8-10 are vague and unhelpful. Marking back to Incomplete until required information is posted.

[Balucio (bsaul)]

I also had this problem frequently.

Is difficut to reproduce, but happen when I copy text from firefox, then paste to Libreoffice (ctrl+V or directly from menu) -> work, but the text is formatted.... UNDO... and then I try to paste the same text unformatted: (ctrl+shift+V or directly from menu) the paste special windows not appear at all.

If I restart libreoffice the paste special function return to work for some times.

[Nagy-akos (nagy-akos)]

When I copy the entire cell (with or without content) and paste it in other cell, and after this from external source (web page, simple text editor) I copy a string and try to paste with paste spacial in calc, the paste special dialog didn't appear.
I test it in ubuntu 11.04 64 bit, ubuntu 11.10 32 and 64 bit.
In windows work fine.

[Reg-zw (reg-zw)]

When I copy the entire cell (with or without content) and paste it in other cell, and after this from external source (web page, simple text editor) I copy a string and try to paste with paste spacial in calc, the paste special dialog didn't appear.
I test it in ubuntu 11.04 64 bit, ubuntu 11.10 32 and 64 bit.
In windows work fine.

[Dario Sepulveda (dsepulve)]

I have the same problem. IT doesn't always happen, but after a couple of times of using "paste special", it no longer works (writer).
I have installed ubuntu 11.10, and the last versions available of libreoffice (through system update).

[giacof (giacof)]

Same problem here with writer. It just works for a few times, then it gets back only after application restart.
Using LibreOffice 3.4.4 OOO340m1 (Build:402) on Kubuntu 11.10.

[giacof (giacof)]

EDIT: sorry, the "Paste Special" command is also restored by using Ctrl-V as described above by Rolf Broberg

[Iamtester8 (iamtester8)]

NOT reproduced with

LOdev 3.5.0beta2
4ca392c-760cc4d-f39cf3d-1b2857e-60db978
Ubuntu 10.04.3 x86
Linux 2.6.32-37-generic Russian UI

Can you try with 3.5?

[Iamtester8 (iamtester8)]

NOT reproduced with

LOdev 3.5.0beta2
4ca392c-760cc4d-f39cf3d-1b2857e-60db978
Ubuntu 10.04.3 x86
Linux 2.6.32-37-generic Russian UI

Can you try with 3.5?

[Nagy-akos (nagy-akos)]

I can reproduced with LOdev 3.5.0beta2 English, Hungarian, Russian UI
4ca392c-760cc4d-f39cf3d-1b2857e-60db978
Ubuntu 11.10 x86
Linux 3.0.0-14-generic English UI, Unity, Unity 2D, Gnome Classic

[Reg-zw (reg-zw)]

I can reproduced with LOdev 3.5.0beta2 English, Hungarian, Russian UI
4ca392c-760cc4d-f39cf3d-1b2857e-60db978
Ubuntu 11.10 x86
Linux 3.0.0-14-generic English UI, Unity, Unity 2D, Gnome Classic

[Libreoffice-z (libreoffice-z)]

[Reproducible] with Parallel Dev-Installation of "LibreOffice 3.5.0 Beta2- WIN7 Home Premium (64bit) German UI [Build-ID : 8589e48-760cc4d-f39cf3d-1b2857e-60db978] and Seamonkey 2.5 Browser

1. Start LibO
2. New CALC document from Start center
3. Click A1
4. <control+c> for Copy
5. Click B1
6. <control+v> for Paste
   > B1 becomes highlighted
7. Switch to this page (<alt+tab>)
8. Mark first 3 words of original report
9. <control+c> for Copy
10. Switch back to Calc sheet (<alt+tab>)
11. Menu 'Edit ->'
    Expected: items 'Paste' and 'Paste Special' active
    Actual: Inactive
12. Double click B1
    Now you can paste (special)

For comparison close LibO, restart from 1. but omit 3 ... 6, In 11.
11a. leave cell cursor in A1.
11b. Menu 'Edit ->'
    Expected: items 'Paste' and 'Paste Special' active
    Actual: as expected paste menu active
click any cell and continue: Same problem, menus inactive

@Kohei:
Please feel free to reassign (or reset Assignee to default) if it’s not your area or if provided information is not sufficient. Please set Status to ASSIGNED if you accept this Bug.

[Libreoffice-z (libreoffice-z)]

[Reproducible] with Parallel Dev-Installation of "LibreOffice 3.5.0 Beta2- WIN7 Home Premium (64bit) German UI [Build-ID : 8589e48-760cc4d-f39cf3d-1b2857e-60db978] and Seamonkey 2.5 Browser

1. Start LibO
2. New CALC document from Start center
3. Click A1
4. <control+c> for Copy
5. Click B1
6. <control+v> for Paste
   > B1 becomes highlighted
7. Switch to this page (<alt+tab>)
8. Mark first 3 words of original report
9. <control+c> for Copy
10. Switch back to Calc sheet (<alt+tab>)
11. Menu 'Edit ->'
    Expected: items 'Paste' and 'Paste Special' active
    Actual: Inactive
12. Double click B1
    Now you can paste (special)

For comparison close LibO, restart from 1. but omit 3 ... 6, In 11.
11a. leave cell cursor in A1.
11b. Menu 'Edit ->'
    Expected: items 'Paste' and 'Paste Special' active
    Actual: as expected paste menu active
click any cell and continue: Same problem, menus inactive

@Kohei:
Please feel free to reassign (or reset Assignee to default) if it’s not your area or if provided information is not sufficient. Please set Status to ASSIGNED if you accept this Bug.

[Jean Revertera (jean.rev)]

Same problem here on oneiric:
LibreOffice 3.4.4 OOO340m1 (Build:402)

The shortcut and menu entry are ineffective.

The "ctrl-v" workaround in #10 also seems to temporarily restore the functionality.

[Nagy Ákos (e-contact-pecska-ro)]

I report this bug on freedesktop.org (I observe this problem only in Calc and ubuntu, in windows works fine, I don't try in another linux distributions):
https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=42466

Description:
1. Create a new document in calc
2. Copy cell A1 with ctrl+c, and paste it in A2 with ctrl+v
3. Copy a random text from browser (or other external source) and I want to paste it with Edit - Paste Special or Shift+Ctrl+V and didn't work.
After this the paste special window only works when I restart the LibreOffice calc, or after I double click in random cell and use Shift+Ctrl+V.

I can reproduce this problem in ubuntu 11.04, 11.10, 12.04 beta1 with libreoffice versions: 3.3.x, 3.4.x, 3.5.x installed from ubuntu package repository (default installation source).

[Reg-zw (reg-zw)]

I can reproduce this bug in Fedora 16 i686, with LibreOffice 3.4.5,
OpenSuse 12.1 i686 KDE, with LO 3.4.2.
For me this means that this is a linux specific bug, not only ubuntu specific.

[Nagy-akos (nagy-akos)]

I can reproduce this bug in Fedora 16 i686, with LibreOffice 3.4.5,
OpenSuse 12.1 i686 KDE, with LO 3.4.2.
For me this means that this is a linux specific bug, not only ubuntu specific.

[Mozaic (mozaic)]

Don't reproduct in LibreOffice 3.5.2.2

[Ivo Vegter (ivovegter)]

I have had this problem constantly, for several years, in both OpenOffice and LibreOffice, on multiple consecutive versions of Ubuntu.

Paste Special works for a while, and then mysteriously stops working (whether invoked by hotkey or menu). The only workaround is to close all open documents and restart LibreOffice (3.5.4.2 Build ID: 350m1(Build:2) on Ubuntu Precise Pangolin). What causes it to stop working is a mystery. There seems to be no pattern to it.

The routine need to restart LibreOffice makes it surprising that this bug has been classified as of low importance. "Won't fix" is not a satisfactory status.

[Björn Michaelsen (bjoern-michaelsen)]

see comment #11. thanks.

[Reg-zw (reg-zw)]

I can reproduce de problem in LibreOffice 4.0.0 alpha 1 in Ubuntu 12.10 64 bit.

[Nagy-akos (nagy-akos)]

I can reproduce de problem in LibreOffice 4.0.0 alpha 1 in Ubuntu 12.10 64 bit.

[Björn Michaelsen (bjoern-michaelsen)]

see also: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ClipboardPersistence

[Björn Michaelsen (bjoern-michaelsen)]

see also: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ClipboardPersistence

[Scott (rsdavidson99)]

I'm having this problem intermittently with LibreCalc Version: 4.1.3.2 Build ID: 410m0(Build:2) on Ubuntu 13.10. It occurs when I copy data from one application (such as output from R Studio) into Calc. The keyboard shortcut will cease to function and paste special will be greyed out in the menu. Restarting Calc remedies the problem until the next occurrence.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Reproducible in Xubuntu Saucy and Trusty:
lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu Trusty Tahr (development branch)
Release: 14.04

apt-cache policy libreoffice-calc
libreoffice-calc:
  Installed: 1:4.1.3-0ubuntu2
  Candidate: 1:4.1.3-0ubuntu2
  Version table:
 *** 1:4.1.3-0ubuntu2 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

A WORKAROUND for me is to just copy/paste something else from within the spreadsheet, then copy/paste from external application into Calc.

[rpr nospam (rpr-nospam)]

I have a similar problem in LibO Writer (v. 4.1.3.2) on Linux Mint 16 64-bit.

At some point I can no longer Paste Special the text copied from an external source, e.g. web page opened in Firefox, while the Paste function still works.

So far the only workaround is to close all running LibreOffice applications and reopen the documents.

[rpr nospam (rpr-nospam)]

I have a similar problem in LibO Writer (v. 4.1.3.2) on Linux Mint 16 64-bit.

At some point I can no longer Paste Special the text copied from an external source, e.g. web page opened in Firefox, while the Paste function still works.

So far the only workaround is to close all running LibreOffice applications and reopen the documents.

[Nagy-akos (nagy-akos)]

I can reproduce de problem in LibreOffice 4.2.1.1 in Ubuntu 14.04 64 bit.

[Nagy-akos (nagy-akos)]

I can reproduce de problem in LibreOffice 4.2.1.1 in Ubuntu 14.04 64 bit.

[James Dunlap (cajdunlap)]

It appears I am experiencing the same bug in LO Calc. I copy a selected column intending to add the results to a nearby column, but when I go to use Ctrl-Shift-V or Menu | Edit | Paste Special, it does not work (both Paste and Paste Special are grayed-out on the menu). The selection gets the "dancing ants" border, but no Paste or Paste Special.

OS: Windows 7 Home Prem SP1, 64-bit
Version info: 4.2.2.1
Build ID: 3be8cda0bddd8e430d8cda1ebfd581265cca5a0f

[Nagy-akos (nagy-akos)]

I can reproduce de problem in LibreOffice 4.3.2.2 in Ubuntu 14.10 64 bit.

[Nagy-akos (nagy-akos)]

I can reproduce de problem in LibreOffice 4.3.2.2 in Ubuntu 14.10 64 bit.

[Simon Reed (xubuntu-o)]

Currently getting this in :

LinuxMint 17 (qiana)
3.13.0-24-generic

LibreOffice
Version: 4.2.7.2
Build ID: 420m0(Build:2)

I am trying to copy and paste text from Wikipedia (or even this web page) to a Writer document. Paste Special is lowlighted and does not work. Shift-Control-C is ignored. Using 'Paste' pastes the font sizes, colours, etc.

[Apiuano-lobugs (apiuano-lobugs)]

I noticed that most of the times this happens to me if I have an open "option window" in any other opened LO window or if I have a cell double clicked in any other calc file. Some times this also occurs if I have selected something in any opened LO file. These may mean that if LO is in some "uncertain state" is blocking only the paste special operation.
(LO 4.2.7.2, ubuntu 14.04, 64b, Cinnamon)

[Apiuano-lobugs (apiuano-lobugs)]

I noticed that most of the times this happens to me if I have an open "option window" in any other opened LO window or if I have a cell double clicked in any other calc file. Some times this also occurs if I have selected something in any opened LO file. These may mean that if LO is in some "uncertain state" is blocking only the paste special operation.
(LO 4.2.7.2, ubuntu 14.04, 64b, Cinnamon)

[Qa-admin-q (qa-admin-q)]

** Please read this message in its entirety before responding **

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If you have time, please do the following:

Test to see if the bug is still present on a currently supported version of LibreOffice (5.0.4 or later)
   https://www.libreoffice.org/download/

If the bug is present, please leave a comment that includes the version of LibreOffice and your operating system, and any changes you see in the bug behavior

the bug is NOT present, please set the bug's Status field to RESOLVED-WORKSFORME and leave a short comment that includes your version of LibreOffice and Operating System

Please DO NOT

Update the version field
Reply via email (please reply directly on the bug tracker)
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If you want to do more to help you can test to see if your issue is a REGRESSION. To do so:

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4a. If the bug was present with 3.3 - set version to "inherited from OOo";

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-- The LibreOffice QA Team This NEW Message was generated on: 2015-12-20

[Nagy-akos (nagy-akos)]

I can reproduce the problem in LibreOffice 5.0.2.2 in Ubuntu 15.10 64 bit.

[Nagy-akos (nagy-akos)]

I retest with LibreOffice 5.0.4, and the bug is fixed. I can't reproduce it.
I test with releases between 5.0.2.2 and 5.0.4.2 and the bug is fixed in LibreOffice 5.0.3.2.

[Nagy-akos (nagy-akos)]

The bug is fixed in LibreOffice 5.0.3.2 (is still present in 5.0.3.1).
I test in Ubuntu 15.10, and I install LO from DEB packages.

[Björn Michaelsen (bjoern-michaelsen)]

As per https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=42466#c14 this has been fixed between 5.0.3.1 and 5.0.3.2 upstream. Wily has 5.0.5.2 via security => Fix released

[Michael Borkowski (miuhael)]

Contrary to the information that the bug is fixed between 5.0.3.1 and 5.0.3.2, I still encounter this bug on LibreOffice 5.0.5.2 in Ubuntu 15.10.

[Michael Borkowski (miuhael)]

Sorry, please disregard my previous comment.

[proxlan (lamballe)]

Hi! I still have this bug on
Version: 5.1.4.2
Build ID: 1:5.1.4-0ubuntu1
Threads CPU : 4; Version de l'OS :Linux 4.4; UI Render : par défaut;
Locale : fr-FR (fr_FR.UTF-8)

Linux Mint 18 Cinnamon

The restart of LibreOffice make ctrl+shift+V and menu available but few operation later, the bug happen again.

What I really do :

copy a line in a table on a website (ctrl+C)
make a special paste with ctrl+shift+V

It works few times and fail.

[Sergio Callegari (callegar)]

I still see this in 5.3.3.2. In fact, what I see is the "paste special" menu entry disabled (grayed out) when it should not be.