zzzeddartha

Does anyone know any way to copy a file to the Mac OSX clipboard from Max or with Java?

I would like to copy a .wav file to clipboard and paste it into a different program.

http://www.vogella.de/blog/2009/09/04/swt-clipboard/

But I get an error saying the item was not found or deleted.

I would like to copy a .wav file to clipboard and paste it into a different program.
I tried using the Java code here:
http://www.vogella.de/blog/2009/09/04/swt-clipboard/

copy-to-clipboard-from-max-or-java

Several years ago I wrote some Java code that I used within an mxj object to do this. I wasn't writing the contents of a .wav file, but rather an .xml file - but perhaps this will get you going. To use it, prepend copyToClipboard in front of the full path to your file, and send that to the mxj's inlet... Let us know if it works!

import com.cycling74.max.*;
import java.awt.datatransfer.*;
import java.io.*;
import java.awt.Toolkit;

public class file_to_clipboard extends MaxObject
{

    private static final String[] INLET_ASSIST = new String[]{
        "full path of file to put on clipboard"
    };
    private static final String[] OUTLET_ASSIST = new String[]{
        "outlet 1 help"
    };

    public file_to_clipboard(Atom[] args)
    {
        declareInlets(new int[]{DataTypes.ALL});
        declareOutlets(new int[]{DataTypes.ALL});
        setInletAssist(INLET_ASSIST);
        setOutletAssist(OUTLET_ASSIST);
    }

    public void copyToClipboard(String file_string) {
        try {
            FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream (MaxSystem.maxPathToNativePath(file_string));
            int the_length = fis.available();
            byte the_chars[]= new byte[the_length];
            fis.read(the_chars);
            String content = new String(the_chars);    

            Clipboard clipboard = Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getSystemClipboard();
            Transferable transferableText =    new StringSelection(content);
            clipboard.setContents(transferableText,null);
        }
        catch (java.io.FileNotFoundException e) {}
        catch (java.io.IOException e) {}
    }
}


Several years ago I wrote some Java code that I used within an mxj object to do this.  I wasn't writing the contents of a .wav file, but rather an .xml file - but perhaps this will get you going.  To use it, prepend copyToClipboard in front of the full path to your file, and send that to the mxj's inlet...  Let us know if it works!

import com.cycling74.max.*;
import java.awt.datatransfer.*;
import java.io.*;
import java.awt.Toolkit;

public class file_to_clipboard extends MaxObject
{

	private static final String[] INLET_ASSIST = new String[]{
		"full path of file to put on clipboard"
	};
	private static final String[] OUTLET_ASSIST = new String[]{
		"outlet 1 help"
	};

	public file_to_clipboard(Atom[] args)
	{
		declareInlets(new int[]{DataTypes.ALL});
		declareOutlets(new int[]{DataTypes.ALL});
		setInletAssist(INLET_ASSIST);
		setOutletAssist(OUTLET_ASSIST);
	}

    public void copyToClipboard(String file_string) {
		try {
			FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream (MaxSystem.maxPathToNativePath(file_string));
			int the_length = fis.available();
			byte the_chars[]= new byte[the_length];
			fis.read(the_chars);
			String content = new String(the_chars);	

			Clipboard clipboard = Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit().getSystemClipboard();
			Transferable transferableText =	new StringSelection(content);
			clipboard.setContents(transferableText,null);
		}
		catch (java.io.FileNotFoundException e) {}
		catch (java.io.IOException e) {}
    }
}


However, it doesn't work. I'm not sure what to change, but there is no error message and nothing copied to the clipboard.

However, it doesn't work.  I'm not sure what to change, but there is no error message and nothing copied to the clipboard.


Sorry - here's a pitch that illustrates how you use it. You have to send the mxj a message with the full path of the file name who's contents you want copied to the clipboard, prepended by "copyToClipboard":

I'm assuming that you've already compiled the java code above to a class file in your classpath too...

FYI, I'm not sure that this code will work with a non-text file.... So first try it with a plain text file, and see if it works - if so, then you can try it with an audio file...

Sorry - here's a pitch that illustrates how you use it.  You have to send the mxj a message with the full path of the file name who's contents you want copied to the clipboard, prepended by "copyToClipboard":

FYI, I'm not sure that this code will work with a non-text file.... So first try it with a plain text file, and see if it works - if so, then you can try it with an audio file...


Okay, so that was what I did before, but now I see that this does indeed work, but not in the way I would like it to.

This works in such a way that when I go to Finder-->Edit-->Show Clipboard, the text file does indeed show up, and for a music file I get some crazy symbols...

However, what I would like it to do is copy a file such that a Cmd+V (Paste) keystroke will paste the file somewhere else.

One reason I would like to do this sound files into Ableton Live (and thereafter use it's transposition, warping, and other great algorithms) from Max.

Actually, the code does work to all Cmd+V to paste the contents into whatever app you are working on - but as you found out, it won't work for binary file contents. You'll have to modify the code to do that I'm afraid...

Actually, the code does work to all Cmd+V to paste the contents into whatever app you are working on - but as you found out, it won't work for binary file contents.  You'll have to modify the code to do that I'm afraid...


Hey guys, would really help me out for some basic instructions on just copying text onto my computer's clipboard (Mac, but preferable multi-platform).

I really have been trying before resorting to hassling you guys with such a basic requirement of instructions...

I'm not a Java guy and always work within the confines of native objects.. but ay,.. could you provide some real basic instructions/downloads etc to get this going ?

Hey guys, would really help me out for some basic instructions on  just copying text onto my computer's clipboard (Mac, but preferable multi-platform).

I really have been trying before resorting to hassling you guys with such a basic requirement of instructions... 

I'm not a Java guy and always work within the confines of native objects.. but ay,.. could you provide some real basic instructions/downloads etc to get this going ?


Explaining how to use Java in Max is probably beyond what I'm prepared to do here on the forum, but to get you started, I've attached the compiled Java class file for the file_to_clipboard object I wrote way back when. If you use that .class file together with the Max patch above in this thread, it should get you going.

Explaining how to use Java in Max is probably beyond what I'm prepared to do here on the forum, but to get you started, I've attached the compiled Java class file for the file_to_clipboard object I wrote way back when.  If you use that .class file together with the Max patch above in this thread, it should get you going.


Dan, you're a BIG help,.. I appreciate your getting back to me on this!!

Still can't get this going.. just want to copy sentences of text onto the computers general clipboard (for Command+V copying in other apps).

Can't even copy files to the clipboard right now... i tried on Max 6 + 7 and my Java is up to date.

First, is the Max patch that I posted above opening with no errors?

Yeah,. this is what I see in the Max Window... and no activity from the outlets of the mxj during tests...

I don't believe I have anything coming out of the outlets of the mxj object - but did you check to see if the text file contents were on your Mac's clipboard?

I'm seeing lots of crazy code on the clipboard, and nothing can be pasted (CMD+V or manually from Finder)...

However when things are copied normally outside of Max MSP the clipboard just super clearly references the file to be copied.

Its a pain, I only want to be able to store text in a patch (in a or something) and then be able to click a button to copy it to my Mac's clipboard to be pasted else where.

I'm seeing lots of crazy code on the clipboard, and nothing can be pasted (CMD+V or manually from Finder)... 

Its a pain, I only want to be able to store text in a patch (in a  or something) and then be able to click a button to copy it to my Mac's clipboard to be pasted else where.


OK, sorry, I'm afraid that's all I can help with at the moment. Good luck!

OK, sorry, I'm afraid that's all I can help with at the moment.  Good luck!


Copy to clipboard from Max or Java