Text Won't Stay Highlighted

Question

Text Won't Stay Highlighted

I'm suddenly experiencing a problem highlighting printed material from the web or word processing material so I can cut, copy or paste. I will start at one point and drag my mouse to where I want it to end but as soon as I release the mouse, the highlighting disappears so I can't go to the next step of cutting, etc. If I keep trying going up, down, etc., eventually it will stay highlighted but it takes a bunch of tries. The same thing happens if I click where I want to start and then hold down the shift key and click where I want to end. As soon as I let go of the mouse, the highlighting stops. Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this?

iMac PowerPC G4, Mac OS X (10.3.x)

Posted on Nov 20, 2008 6:31 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 21, 2008 12:06 PM in response to Ronald Everett

A stuck key on the keyboard, or an overactive mouse sending ghost clicks.

I used to have exactly the same issue with a new Microsoft wireless mouse, I got ghost clicks all the time, made drag and drop impossible. It was even worse in OS9. So now that mouse is used in Leopard without issue, and a different, older MS wireless mouse on the Panther G4.

Two (radio) wireless mice on the same desk also bring their own issues, more with deviating mouse tracks than ghost clicks.

Or do you have the Mighty Mouse ? I was always getting clicks from the side buttons (buttons 4 & 5) just when I didn't want them, and just sometimes right clicks too - this was the reason I changed to a MS mouse.

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Answer 2

Nov 21, 2008 1:43 PM in response to Simon Teale

Thanks the the info, Simon. I am using the same mouse that came with the MAC. It is hard wired, nothing fancy, no side buttons, etc. It would seem that if I had a stuck key, I'd be getting something showing up on the screen. However, if I am getting some sort of ghost clicks, is there some way to figure out where it is or any way to fix it?

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Answer 3

Nov 22, 2008 5:50 AM in response to Ronald Everett

Test in the keyboard & mouse system preference, there's an area there to test the double-click speed and triple-click speed. Do you get the rapid "un-selection" there too ? Or is it just limited to certain apps. I suspect Acrobat Reader can do what you are suggesting, to prevent PDF content being copied to the clipboard. This has to be something chosen by the document creator, just like they can prevent printing, etc.

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