Variable Set from Clipboard - very slow?

[terrypin]

I've tried the Variable Set String (from clipboard) in several macros and I seem to be getting extremely long delays. Here's a simplified example using any file opened in Notepad. With the Variable Set command, it takes 4 secs before the macro ends. Without, a fraction of a second.

 

I'd appreciate feedback on whether others can reproduce please.

Commands:

// Run from a file opened in Notepad, for example
Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ALT>fa // Opens the Save As dialog
Delay: 0.1 seconds
Clipboard Copy
Delay: 0.1 seconds
// It appears that following command takes nearly 4 secs to complete. Without it, the macro runs in a flash.
Variable Set String %tName% from the clipboard contents
Delay: 0.1 seconds
Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): <ESC> // Close Save As dialog.

Code:

<COMMENT Value="Run from a file opened in Notepad, for example"/>
<TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ALT>fa" _COMMENT="Opens the Save As dialog"/>
<DELAY Flags="\x01" Time="0.1"/>
<CLIPBOARD COPY/>
<DELAY Flags="\x01" Time="0.1"/>
<COMMENT Value="It appears that following command takes nearly 4 secs to complete. Without it, the macro runs in a flash. "/>
<VARIABLE SET STRING Option="\x02" Destination="%tName%" NoEmbeddedVars="FALSE"/>
<DELAY Flags="\x01" Time="0.1"/>
<TEXT TYPE Action="0" Text="<ESC>" _COMMENT="Close Save As dialog."/>

Macro file attached, or here:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/TestVariableSetDelay.mex

--

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[rberq]

Running ME3 with Windows 7. I have many macros that run this generic copy-to-clipboard macro, and very fast response time for all. Preference for clipboard delay is set to zero, with the macro itself determining whether the copy has completed or not.

 

Clipboard Empty

// Copy to clipboard
Clipboard Copy
// Loop until clipboard is non-null, that is, copy to clipboard has completed. Since the value
// to be copied may in fact BE null, we limit the loop to a nominal 1 second, then quit, leaving it null.
// (Due to overhead, the actual loop time will be more like 2 seconds than 1.)
Repeat Start (Repeat 50 times)
Delay 20 Milliseconds
If Clipboard Text Equals ""
Else
Repeat Exit
End If
Repeat End

Variable Set String %T1% from Clipboard

[terrypin]

Thanks, but it's not the Clibpoard Copy that's taking the almost 4 secs.

 

However, just to check if your repeat loop somehow makes a difference, I replaced my Clipboard Copy with that alternative. Still 4 seconds.

 

Could you run my macro and check how long it takes please?

 

--

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[Cory]

I timed a clipboard copy command on my machine and it's nearly instant. Are you using a clipboard manager utility?

[rberq]

Thanks, but it's not the Clibpoard Copy that's taking the almost 4 secs.

Yes, I understand. It's the "Variable Set String %tName% from the clipboard contents" that is taking 4 seconds for you.

The last line of my sample macro is "Variable Set String %T1% from Clipboard" to match yours, and mine runs in way less than one second.

So the answer is, No, I can't get it to run slow like yours does.

Again, note that I am running ME3, not ME Pro.

[terrypin]

I timed a clipboard copy command on my machine and it's nearly instant. Are you using a clipboard manager utility?

 

I didn't ask about the clipboard copy command.

[terrypin]

Yes, I understand. It's the "Variable Set String %tName% from the clipboard contents" that is taking 4 seconds for you.

The last line of my sample macro is "Variable Set String %T1% from Clipboard" to match yours, and mine runs in way less than one second.

So the answer is, No, I can't get it to run slow like yours does.

Again, note that I am running ME3, not ME Pro.

 

Thanks, that's focused my mind. So it looks like it's something uniquely about my set up here. (I don't think the ME3 v ME Pro distinction is significant.) In the last hour or so I've begun to suspect it might somehow involve my external USB HD 'waking up'. At some point in my testing, one of the files involved was saved on that drive. Looks like a link has been 'remembered'. I'll pursue that tomorrow.

 

--

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[Cory]

I misspoke. I meant the command to set a string from the clipboard.