Thunderbird composition window ignores space bar

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Level 1

4 points

Thunderbird composition window ignores space bar

I've been using Thunderbird for email since forever. Mostly, I've been on a PC without issues, but once, a number of years ago, I had an old white MacBook (ca. 2010), and thunderbird always worked well on that. But, I recently got a 14" MacBook Pro (OS 12.4), and I'm having terrible problems. When I try to compose an email message the space bar won't work, literally. It will not allow me to space between words. I have a sort of work around in that if I do opt+space or shift+space, I can insert a space. But I've been touch typing for more than 60 years, so this is not a good option.

What I've been doing is composing my messages in text edit, then copying and pasting into TB, but that's a rather stupid approach. I have also had intermittent problems with the spacing issue in MS Word, and, I believe, EverNote.

I'm guessing something is defective in my shiny new MacBook. Anyone have any ideas?

MacBook Pro Apple Silicon

Posted on Jun 30, 2022 8:04 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

PRP_53

Level 10

91,807 points

Jul 2, 2022 2:36 AM in response to lgpiper

To further Trouble Shoot and possibly isolate where the issue is >>

1 - Restart in Safe Mode. This will perform a Disk Repair, clear cache files and only load Apple Software, extensions and fonts. The boot up will be slow and can take some time - Normal.

2 - Does the issue present in this mode ?

3 - Sometimes a Safe Boot followed by a Normal Boot will just put things right.

4 - If not - there could be something in the main User Account playing up. To further isolate this - Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac. Then log out of the Main User account and log into the dummy account and test again if the issue persists.

5 - If the issue is present in the dummy account - then, this appears to be a System Wide issue on the computer.

6 - If after performing each of the above steps in the order that have been presents and still have issues - please advise for possible further assistance.

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Answer 2

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

118,440 points

Jul 3, 2022 2:56 AM in response to lgpiper

lgpiper wrote:

I was trying to figure out how to type in a 1/2 symbol (0189 in hex).

You can type hex stuff if you activate the Unicode Hex input source (found in the Others category). But Character Viewer is what most people use.

Use emoji and symbols on Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 3

lgpiper Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 1, 2022 7:04 PM in response to dialabrain

You are probably correct that it's not a TB problem. That means it's likely a Mac problem, and I was hoping someone here would recognize the issue. I found the "support community" a bit difficult to navigate, and couldn't find a more appropriate place for my query. In addition, the problem is most pronounced and persistent in TB. Perhaps you could direct me to a more appropriate part of forum. I can't believe I'm the only person in the history of the world who has had this problem.

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Answer 4

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

118,440 points

Jul 2, 2022 5:26 AM in response to lgpiper

lgpiper wrote:

it's likely a Mac problem, and I was hoping someone here would recognize the issue.

Sounds like perhaps someone mistakenly turned ON "Full Keyboard Access" as mentioned by dialabrain.

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Answer 5

lgpiper Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 2, 2022 10:41 AM in response to dialabrain

It seems that you've nailed it. The accessibility keyboard was turned on. Weirdly, having it turned on reduced accessibility for me. I think the problem might have started when I was trying to figure out how to type in a 1/2 symbol (0189 in hex). I've learned a lot of the keyboard work arounds for special symbols, such as accents on vowels and m-dashes, but I've yet to make the 1/2 symbol worked. The things I found on Google didn't help, but perhaps that was partly because the "accessibility keyboard" was on.

Anyway, you've fixed my immediate problem. Blessings upon you.

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