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 Jeff Shenk,

    Jeff Shenk Jeff Shenk Jan 2, 2012 10:39 AM in response to DuncanFromChichester
    Level 4 (2,803 points)
    Jan 2, 2012 10:39 AM in response to DuncanFromChichester

    If, as you say, the problem is people using their mouse incorrectly, I'm not sure why it is Apple's problem to sort out.

    I just checked Amazon for "usb mouse" and got 36,899 choices.

     

    There are lots of mice out there, many of them inexpensive. I would expect that most of them work better than the somewhat gimmicky products that Apple sells. Just get one that works with the way you work.

  • by DuncanFromChichester,

    DuncanFromChichester DuncanFromChichester Jan 2, 2012 10:57 AM in response to Jeff Shenk
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Jan 2, 2012 10:57 AM in response to Jeff Shenk

    I am afraid I am stuck on Apple, and I use several unique features of the Magic Mouse so I am loath to give it up.  This seems quite a common problem, and it is not an obvious 'misuse' to leave one's finger resting on the mouse, so I think Apple should at least clarify the situation, and fix it if possible.

  • by KOENIG Yvan,

    KOENIG Yvan Jan 2, 2012 12:58 PM in response to DuncanFromChichester
    Level 8 (41,790 points)
    Jan 2, 2012 12:58 PM in response to DuncanFromChichester

    Are you sure that you aren't simply facing the behavior of the app when AutoSave apply ?

     

    I already wrote many times that iWork was not coded with brains but with feet.

    AutoSave reveal that to users which didn't took care before.

     

    Try this scheme :

     

    open a document

    trigger

    Menu > File > Duplicate

     

    then work upon the duplicate.

     

    If the described befavor continue to strike, I am wrong.

    If it doesn't strike, I am right.

     

    Yvan KOENIG (VALLAURIS, France) lundi 2 janvier 2012

    iMac 21”5, i7, 2.8 GHz, 12 Gbytes, 1 Tbytes, mac OS X 10.6.8 and 10.7.2

    My iDisk is : http://public.me.com/koenigyvan


    Please : Search for questions similar to your own before submitting them to the community


     

    For iWork's applications dedicated to iOS, go to :

    https://discussions.apple.com/community/app_store/iwork_for_ios

  • by DuncanFromChichester,

    DuncanFromChichester DuncanFromChichester Jan 3, 2012 11:31 PM in response to KOENIG Yvan
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Jan 3, 2012 11:31 PM in response to KOENIG Yvan

    I tried your procedure but the problem persisted.  Thanks for your help.

  • by Colonel Hall,

    Colonel Hall Colonel Hall Jan 4, 2012 1:13 AM in response to Martin S Taylor
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iTunes
    Jan 4, 2012 1:13 AM in response to Martin S Taylor

    I have completely eliminated the problem, since taking the advice regarding the mouse. Just taking my fingers off it, whilst using keystrokes and it works fine.

  • by humphrey_g,

    humphrey_g humphrey_g Jan 4, 2012 8:10 AM in response to humphrey_g
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 4, 2012 8:10 AM in response to humphrey_g

    OK, I have solved my version of this problem of the keyboard becoming unresponsive _only_ when I am in Numbers or Pages whenever I type a cmd or ctrl key combination (like cutting or pasting).  Like many people I made use of Better Touch Tool when I was using Snow Leopard.  I did not uninstall it when I moved up to Lion, but I didn't make use of it because Lion brought in the gestures that I needed.  To be honest, I just completely forgot about it.  Then, as soon as I upgraded to Pages '09  4.1 and Numbers '09 2.1, I started getting the problem 100% of the time.

     

    So I completely uninstalled BTT, and the problem (so far) has gone away.

     

    Summary: 3rd party App was the cause.

  • by fruhulda,

    fruhulda fruhulda Jan 4, 2012 8:23 AM in response to humphrey_g
    Level 6 (15,126 points)
    Jan 4, 2012 8:23 AM in response to humphrey_g

    The BetterTouchTool did have an update for Lion. I am not sure it is mentioned in this thread.

  • by DuncanFromChichester,

    DuncanFromChichester DuncanFromChichester Jan 4, 2012 10:19 AM in response to fruhulda
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Jan 4, 2012 10:19 AM in response to fruhulda

    For me, this problem exists with a clean install of Lion and only Pages added -- i.e. no 3rd party app is needed to induce it.  Colonel Hall, glad you've trained yourself so well!  I'm still trying.

  • by AbigailWA,

    AbigailWA AbigailWA Jan 19, 2012 5:11 PM in response to DuncanFromChichester
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 19, 2012 5:11 PM in response to DuncanFromChichester

    I have 100% fail on cmd v, cmd c and cmd x in ALL APPLICATIONS (Safari, gmail, MSOffice, everything).   Here is cmd v √ (a checkmark), cmd c ç (that french c with the little tail, I forget the name), and cmd x ≈ (squiggly equals sign).  Lion, magic mouse, and logitech wireless keyboard.  I use these shortcuts a thousand times a day at work (on PC).  It kills my shoulder to work for any time in my office apps on the mac.  Suggestions?

  • by Jeff Shenk,

    Jeff Shenk Jeff Shenk Jan 19, 2012 5:33 PM in response to AbigailWA
    Level 4 (2,803 points)
    Jan 19, 2012 5:33 PM in response to AbigailWA

    Those are the correct characters for option v, option c and option x. Are you sure you're using the command key? If its a Mac keyboard it's next to the spacebar, but if it's a PC keyboard you use the Windows key which is second from the spacebar.

  • by AbigailWA,

    AbigailWA AbigailWA Jan 19, 2012 6:06 PM in response to Jeff Shenk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 19, 2012 6:06 PM in response to Jeff Shenk

    I'm sure I'm using the command key.  BUT, Jeff Shenk, you have just changed my life!! 

     

    This keyboard has both a Windows (labeled with the flying window and the word Option) AND a cmd (labeled with Alt and the fourleafclover symbol) in the positions you describe.

     

    So I tried windows-c on the last few words of the first line, and now I'm doing windows-v on the next line.

    you have just changed my life!!

     

    wow.

    Thank you Jeff!!!

  • by wundalous,

    wundalous wundalous Feb 6, 2012 2:01 AM in response to DuncanFromChichester
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 6, 2012 2:01 AM in response to DuncanFromChichester

    Duncan,

     

    I'm having the same problem you discussed earlier, using Keynote 09 on a machine with Snow Leopard and no magic mouse, just a touchpad. The input issue arises in exactly the conditions you described even in these conditions. Thanks for diagnosing the problem so well -- I just hope I'll be able to pay enough attention to keep the characters appearing on the screen.

     

    Still no luck with the Apple folks, eh? I'll add my voice to the complaints.

  • by Jellyfilled Studios,Helpful

    Jellyfilled Studios Jellyfilled Studios Jul 26, 2012 10:55 AM in response to DuncanFromChichester
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jul 26, 2012 10:55 AM in response to DuncanFromChichester

    Just thought I would mention that after installing Mountain Lion yesterday this problem went away finally

  • by Martin S Taylor,

    Martin S Taylor Martin S Taylor Jul 26, 2012 12:05 PM in response to Jellyfilled Studios
    Level 1 (24 points)
    Jul 26, 2012 12:05 PM in response to Jellyfilled Studios

    No, I'm still having problems just as before.

     

    MST

  • by Niklas Luhmann,

    Niklas Luhmann Niklas Luhmann Jul 29, 2012 12:59 AM in response to Martin S Taylor
    Level 1 (46 points)
    Jul 29, 2012 12:59 AM in response to Martin S Taylor

    I too am still having the same issue. It is not fixed.

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