periodically can't type in text field

Question

Level 1

27 points

periodically can't type in text field

We just rolled out 9 new Mac Minis and all are having this problem, but I don't know if it's the hardware of the OS (10.5.1). All users are complaining about this, though older machines are not exhibiting this problem.

When they are working in various programs (but all are PPC binaries), suddenly they can not type in a text field (i.e., in a cell in Excel or in a text or number field in Quickbooks). The solution is to click outside the current field, then click back into the field and they can type again. But it happens enough to be very annoying.

I called Apple support and they claim to never have heard of this problem (but then they always say that even when a fix appears on the 'net later that day).

Any ideas?

Thanks...

Mac Mini, Mac OS X (10.5.1)

Posted on Dec 21, 2007 1:37 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 5, 2008 1:29 PM in response to ron outdoors

I have a similar problem and it is ******* me off.
I bought IK multimedia ARC and on my powerbook G4 running 10.5.1 all is fine however, on my macbook pro running same system I can't type the preset name which means I can't use ARC for now.
I also noticed a similar problem while using sibelius 5.1 and trying to type in a name for a preset of the playback devices. I can type but only one character every second or so and I must hold on the key for a wile, resulting in multiple characters, then deleting the extras!! strange.

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Answer 2

Mar 5, 2008 5:44 PM in response to Jim Gottlieb

Also having this problem in Tex-Edit, an app I am pretty sure is Carbon. It starts when I bring up the find-and-replace dialog. All keyboard input stops working, and I have to restart the app to recover.

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Answer 3

Mar 5, 2008 6:54 PM in response to Easily Easy

Sorry, I already had 10.5.2 and it was so buggy I had to wipe my disk and reinstall my OS. The text box problem remains, however.

So I am NOT running Software Update until I know some of these problems are fixed.

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Answer 4

Apr 4, 2008 10:22 AM in response to Jim Gottlieb

This has happened to a couple of my users too. The programs that we have seen it happen to are Firefox, Excel, Safari, and trying to rename a file on the desktop.

While Leopard has some really nice features and I like it overall it has been slowing down our productivity with little bugs like this.

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Answer 5

Ash435

Level 2

469 points

Apr 20, 2008 3:12 PM in response to Jim Gottlieb

Does anyone know if Microsoft or Apple are going to fix this? I never thought Excel could be any more frustrating until Leopard. I can't move to Office 2008 because I use macros, and I gather it is just as slow and bloated as 2004 anyway.

Or has anyone else come up with a solution? Clicking to another app then back sometimes works for me. Sometimes not. Or double clicking a cell to force typing. Or not...

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Answer 6

Jun 20, 2008 10:23 AM in response to Jim Gottlieb

I've had the same problem with Excel: I periodically can't type in cells. It seems to happen if I type too quickly. The workaround is to exit the cell and re-enter it, then type more slowly. However, I can't trigger it at will. Quitting the program and restarting it seems to help. If it's relevant, my keyboard is a Microsoft Ergonomic and I use the wacky Dvorak layout.

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Answer 7

Jul 16, 2008 12:37 PM in response to Jim Gottlieb

I have this problem since upgrading to 10.5.3. V 10.5.4 has not solved it. I have a MacBook Pro.
Suddenly I cannot type text in any application, Mial, Firefox, Excel....nothing
I have to restart in able to solve the problem temporarily !
Anybody knows about this issue and hot to solve it ?

Thanks

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Answer 8

go.dizzy

Level 1

55 points

Jul 16, 2008 1:03 PM in response to Jim Gottlieb

I've had that problem just today with Safari, it would NOT allow me to click on the Apple Discussion "Login" link. Switched to Firefox and no problem.

I would suggest trying Firefox if you are attempting that input via browser. If not, I would look for a keyboard firmware upgrade. I would also suggest going to 10.5.2 update.

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Answer 9

Dec 21, 2007 7:23 PM in response to Jim Gottlieb

My wife is having the same problem with her one month old MacBook. It seems to come and go.

I upgraded to Leopard on my older G5, and have not had the problem. Go figure.

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Answer 10

Feb 1, 2008 10:51 AM in response to ron outdoors

Anyone come up with a solution to this at all? This is occurring in a brand new Mac Pro with fresh install of Microsoft Office 2004. It's really annoying the user... glad I'm ok...

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Answer 11

Jim Gottlieb Author

Level 1

27 points

Mar 5, 2008 3:57 PM in response to timmychen

Our solution was to stop using PPC binaries. We upgraded to the new MS Office and latest Quickbooks.

I don't know if 10.5.2 would have solved the problem by itself.

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Answer 12

Mar 5, 2008 6:06 PM in response to Gnarlodious

I had a similar problem on my 10.4.x and 10.5.0.

I no longer had it since 10.5.1. Please try the upgrade; seems to work

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Answer 13

Jul 24, 2008 1:01 PM in response to go.dizzy

When it happens it happens on all application, browser, word, excel, mail...everything! Only restarting solves the bug (till the next freeze )
I am on 10.5.4

Rgds

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