Martin S Taylor
Level 1 (24 points)

Q: Keystrokes lost since upgrading to Lion

Since I've upgraded to Lion I'm experiencing a rather odd problem: iWork doesn't respond to certain keystrokes. The worst offenders are Cmd-C, Cmd-V, and the like, but sometimes regular typing just doesn't appear in the document.

 

This is an intermittent problem: if I click on a Finder window and then back to Pages (or Numbers, or Keynote) then all is well once again – for a few minutes. Then, sure enough, when I try to Cut or Paste, I have to do it from the menu: the keyboard shortcuts won't work.

 

Anyone else seen this? Any suggestions how to track down what's causing it?

 

Martin S Taylor

Intel iMac, 3GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.7), iPhone 4; iOS 4.3

Posted on Aug 11, 2011 7:07 AM

by DuncanFromChichester,Solvedanswer
DuncanFromChichester DuncanFromChichester
Level 1 (15 points)
A:

To Martin S. Taylor et al.

 

I have been having the same 'ignored keystrokes' problem, and have found a way to reproduce the malfunction entirely reliably.  It is when you use the magic mouse with one hand, the keyboard with the other.  I have been seeking a solution from Applecare support for 3 months, now, but nothing to date.  I suspect it is a bug in iWorks.  I would be very interested if someone can reproduce the problem and report back here.  Here is the sequence that produces the problem 100% reliably for me:

 

===============

  1. Open a new document in Pages and type a few words to make sure it is working properly
  2. Hold the magic mouse in your normal way, between you thumb and another finger.  (Not your index finger)
  3. Slowly stroke the top of the mouse with your index finger as if you are scrolling (very lightly, in any direction) BUT DON'T LIFT UP YOU FINGER AFTERWARDS.  With your finger still touching the mouse surface, try typing some characters with your other hand.  If it works for you as it does for me, all keystrokes will be ignored, until you raise your index finger from the mouse surface.
  4. This is very annoying for anyone like me, who tends to leave his finger resting on the mouse surface after dragging, clicking etc.  Randomly and intermittently keystrokes get ignored …  sometimes for many seconds (until, inadvertently, you lift up your finger from the mouse).

=======================

 

It happens particularly when you are copying and pasting because you normally use the mouse to indentify the text to be copied in one hand, while typing with the other hand.  Any confirmation would be much appreciated.

 

Regards,

Duncan Butlin

Posted on Nov 11, 2011 10:09 AM

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Martin S Taylor

Q: Keystrokes lost since upgrading to Lion

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  • by DuncanFromChichester,

    DuncanFromChichester DuncanFromChichester Nov 22, 2011 12:39 PM in response to Niklas Luhmann
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Nov 22, 2011 12:39 PM in response to Niklas Luhmann

    Yes, you are describing the same procedure as I did, above.  It happens in Pages and Numbers as well.  You only have to lift your finger clear of the mouse surface, by the way -- not your whole hand -- to clear the problem.  I have yet to hear of anyone who cannot reproduce the problem, so I feel certain Apple know of it …  they just don't want to comment.  I've been reporting it to AppleCare for over a month, now, with no response.

  • by Colonel Hall,

    Colonel Hall Colonel Hall Dec 9, 2011 2:54 AM in response to Martin S Taylor
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iTunes
    Dec 9, 2011 2:54 AM in response to Martin S Taylor

    Many  thanks. This problem has been driving me mad and I have resorted to using my 7 year old macbook for spreadsheets. I have given it a quick test and, sure enough, if I leave my finger on the very front of the mouse to the left, copy and paste do not work.

  • by Colonel Hall,

    Colonel Hall Colonel Hall Dec 9, 2011 2:59 AM in response to Martin S Taylor
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iTunes
    Dec 9, 2011 2:59 AM in response to Martin S Taylor

    I get it now! It's not when I touch the front right. It only appears this way, becazuse I was moving my finger around searching for the right spot. IT happens when I move my finger and then don't lift it.

     

    Surely Apple must be aware of this.

  • by fruhulda,

    fruhulda fruhulda Dec 9, 2011 4:30 AM in response to Colonel Hall
    Level 6 (15,126 points)
    Dec 9, 2011 4:30 AM in response to Colonel Hall

    It is really the user of the Magic mouse that has to be aware of where you have you fingers, not Apple. The same goes for those using a Track pad like me. I have to be aware if I have my finger close to the track pad or not.

  • by Colonel Hall,

    Colonel Hall Colonel Hall Dec 9, 2011 5:18 AM in response to Martin S Taylor
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iTunes
    Dec 9, 2011 5:18 AM in response to Martin S Taylor

    It is very easy to make this mistake and the potential to screw up one's data is enormous. Seeing as there are a number of people who have had no idea that touching the mouse like this was causing the error, do you not think that Apple should alert them to the possibility of such an error.

  • by DuncanFromChichester,

    DuncanFromChichester DuncanFromChichester Dec 9, 2011 10:27 AM in response to Colonel Hall
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Dec 9, 2011 10:27 AM in response to Colonel Hall

    I agree with you, Colonel Hall ...  especially difficult for oldies like me who have used a mouse in a particular way since 1984 -- it will be very difficult to change old habits.  In reality it is far too ambitious to introduce a mouse with so many new features without a proper training course, such as that included with the original Macintosh mouse.  Inevitably some people will use it in ways the designers did not imagine.  I have not been able to find such a course …  does anyone know if one exists?

     

    Apple Operations Europe does not know of this problem, though the engineers in the States certainly must.  Apple ought to inform all support staff immediately.  For each user who has a serious problem with this 'feature' there must be hundreds if not thousands who ocassionally create random errors with no explanation -- just the sort of unreliability that Apple seeks to avoid.  If Apple does not come back to me soon, I will consider seeking publicity in the technical press.

  • by fruhulda,

    fruhulda fruhulda Dec 9, 2011 4:00 PM in response to DuncanFromChichester
    Level 6 (15,126 points)
    Dec 9, 2011 4:00 PM in response to DuncanFromChichester

    If you want Apple to talk to you you have to contact them. In this forum we are all end user just like you.

  • by DuncanFromChichester,

    DuncanFromChichester DuncanFromChichester Dec 9, 2011 4:09 PM in response to fruhulda
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Dec 9, 2011 4:09 PM in response to fruhulda

    I use AppleCare, and they have been trying to solve this problem for me for 3 months.  For the last 4 weeks it has been with 'engineers in the United States', after I found out how to reproduce the problem reliably.  They have not even confirmed the problem to me, let alone discussed solutions.

  • by Danuta Kamalska,

    Danuta Kamalska Danuta Kamalska Dec 15, 2011 8:14 AM in response to Martin S Taylor
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 15, 2011 8:14 AM in response to Martin S Taylor

    I have am experiencing a similar problem

    I thought it was my bluetooth keyboard

    changed it -no fix

    I used a USB keyboard -no fix

     

    So far reinstallation of the software plus removal of files related to iWork and not updating the software worked

    downgrade do not update

  • by fruhulda,

    fruhulda fruhulda Dec 15, 2011 8:20 AM in response to Danuta Kamalska
    Level 6 (15,126 points)
    Dec 15, 2011 8:20 AM in response to Danuta Kamalska

    Danuta - What did you downgrade? to what?

  • by Danuta Kamalska,

    Danuta Kamalska Danuta Kamalska Dec 15, 2011 8:28 AM in response to fruhulda
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 15, 2011 8:28 AM in response to fruhulda

    Simply to  iWork 9.0 form my CD

    When I did the software upgrade the issue returned so I reinstalled the software again 

     

    Do not forget to delete the files form the Application support folder after you delete the software

  • by fruhulda,

    fruhulda fruhulda Dec 15, 2011 8:33 AM in response to Danuta Kamalska
    Level 6 (15,126 points)
    Dec 15, 2011 8:33 AM in response to Danuta Kamalska

    Which version of iWork '09? 4.0, 4.0.5 or 4.1?

  • by Danuta Kamalska,

    Danuta Kamalska Danuta Kamalska Dec 15, 2011 8:42 AM in response to fruhulda
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 15, 2011 8:42 AM in response to fruhulda

    4.0

    The issue with keyboard goes away but if you work with a lot of layers doc the objects move slower at least on lion

  • by humphrey_g,

    humphrey_g humphrey_g Jan 2, 2012 7:08 AM in response to Martin S Taylor
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 2, 2012 7:08 AM in response to Martin S Taylor

    I also have the problem of the keyboard becoming unresponsive in Numbers and Pages.  I upgraded to Lion when it first came out, but have only just upgraded iWork to Pages '09 4.1 and Numbers '09 2.1.  THAT'S when the problem started.  I find the only way to clear the problem is to switch into another app (like Text Edit), type a few characters and switch back into Numbers/Pages.  The problem soon comes back as soon as I start cutting and pasting.

     

    So it most definitely is NOT a few Users problem Apple! I'll be posting to the feedback area in the hopes that a fix gets put up soon, as this is a major productivity issue for me.

  • by DuncanFromChichester,

    DuncanFromChichester DuncanFromChichester Jan 2, 2012 10:12 AM in response to humphrey_g
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Jan 2, 2012 10:12 AM in response to humphrey_g

    Have you tried scrolling and leaving your finger on the mouse, as I described above?  This induces the problem, for all those who have reported trying it;  and lifting the finger from the mouse then cures the problem.  As you say, this is a general problem that Apple needs to sort out, but if you can train yourself to lift your finger from the mouse, whenever you finish making a gesture, you can solve the problem for yourself.  I am slowly managing to train myself!

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