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problem copying from safari

keystrike

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The copy function rarely works, or works badly on my iPad 2 with screen protector. So I bring up a website, press down on a word, and one word is outlined in blue and I see two knobs. Usually, no matter what I do, I cannot move the knobs in order to expand the selection. I have tried a hundred times. It is extremely frustrating, to the point where I'm thinking of returning my ipad. (I have 2 weeks.)

Then, sometimes, it works very well.

Is there some secret? Could my ipad be deficient. Does it depend on the web site?
 

Tim SPRACKLEN

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The copy function rarely works, or works badly on my iPad 2 with screen protector. So I bring up a website, press down on a word, and one word is outlined in blue and I see two knobs. Usually, no matter what I do, I cannot move the knobs in order to expand the selection. I have tried a hundred times. It is extremely frustrating, to the point where I'm thinking of returning my ipad. (I have 2 weeks.)

Then, sometimes, it works very well.

Is there some secret? Could my ipad be deficient. Does it depend on the web site?

It's an acquired skill but, for sure, the screen protector does not help.

Having said that, remember that if you press - and hold - the screen near the 'knobs' a pop-up magnifying glass will appear that makes life a whole lot easier...

Tim
 
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keystrike

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Thank you for your quick respose - I appreciate it.

Unfortunately, your answer does not seem to help in my case. Did you try this yourself before answering? If so, please direct me to a website and give me the exact procedure you used to copy more than a single word (but less than everything on the page) - that would be most helpful, so I could see one example where it works repeatedly and reproducibly, and then I'll know it really is me and not the device.

If I press NEAR the knobs, I get the magnifying glass, and can only move to a new selected word. If I press ON the knobs, nothing happens. (It does not even help if I throw the ipad against a wall - just kidding.)

BTW, I sometimes use an external bluetooth keyboard (Targus). In notes, I can use the keyboard arrows and "shift" to extend a selection. It even works as I type this message. However, this does not seem to work in Safari. (Is this another Apple marketing coup? One can't help but be a tad cynical.)
 
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keystrike

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This gets more "interesting". If you click on my link (see above message), the copy function works perfectly. However, if I open the very same web site in Safari directly, I cannot get the copy function to work.

Are there alternative browsers on the ipad? What is going on?
 

Tim SPRACKLEN

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Yes - I clicked on your link and had no problem...

Here's what I copied

But what should it sound like? The pat answer, of course, is that it should sound like "the real thing," but it's a bit more complicated than that. If the system itself is accurate, it will reproduce what is on the recording. And if the recording itself isn't an accurate representation of the original sound, an accurate sound won't sound realistic. But what does the recording sound like? That's hard to tell, because you can't judge the fidelity of a recording without playing it, and you can't judge the fidelity of the reproducing system without listening to it---usually by playing a recording through it. Since each is used to judge the other, it is difficult to tell much about either, except whether their combination sounds "real." But it can be done.

now I'll try the direct route

Tim
 

Tim SPRACKLEN

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I tried the direct route...

But what should it sound like? The pat answer, of course, is that it should sound like "the real thing," but it's a bit more complicated than that. If the system itself is accurate, it will reproduce what is on the recording. And if the recording itself isn't an accurate representation of the original sound, an accurate sound won't sound realistic. But what does the recording sound like? That's hard to tell, because you can't judge the fidelity of a recording without playing it, and you can't judge the fidelity of the reproducing system without listening to it---usually by playing a recording through it. Since each is used to judge the other, it is difficult to tell much about either, except whether their combination sounds "real." But it can be done.


Tim
 

Tim SPRACKLEN

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The easiest first way to try to solve ‘unexplained’ or ‘unusual’ problems with the iPad are:-

Force the offending app to close. If you have iOS 4.2 or 4.3 double-press the ‘Home’ button to bring up the multi-task bar at the bottom of the screen. Press *and hold* any icon until they start to ‘jiggle’. Then tap the top left-hand corner of the app that you want to close. It will ‘disappear’ from the list. Don’t panic - you’ve not deleted it, just closed it. Now tap the Home screen and the multi-task bar will disappear. Re-open the iPad’s app and see if the problem has resolved itself. If not, it’s on to possible solution number two!!
Restart the iPad. Press *and hold* the Power button. After a couple of seconds a slider control will appear asking you to confirm that you really want to switch the iPad off (this is all you’ll be doing). Slide the control to accept. A rotating white ‘bezel’ will appear in the iPad screen as the iPad powers down (it takes a few seconds, just like it would if you were shutting down your PC). When the screen of the iPad has gone completely blank, press *and hold* the Power button for a couple of seconds until the white Apple logo appears and the iPad starts to power up. This takes several seconds, so be patient. During the power up the automatic screen orientation function is disabled, so don’t panic. A few seconds before the power up is complete, the iPad plays a little ‘jingle’ and then you’re back to the Home screen. Restart the iPad’s app and see if the problem persists. Apple (and Forum members) recommend that you power down your iPad at least once a week, just as you might regularly completely switch off your PC. The normal procedure of just briefly pressing the Power button of the iPad merely puts it to ‘sleep’. Most Forum members have found that one of the two methods I’ve mentioned here cure a whole bunch of unexplained problems and are an easy first step to resolving most anything that happens on the iPad.

Tim
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keystrike

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I restarted safari and that solved the problem. Thanks you very much - very very helpful.

this is a good trick to know about.
 

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