Numlock disables spacebar?

Hi kika,

You're not alone. Apparently I am experiencing this as well. Didn't notice it before as I rarely ever use the numlock key.


Jrsy

Hi Kika --

Like you and Jrsy, I, too, have a non-working space bar when I click F6 for "num lock."

But, I think there may be a possible work around. It's not pretty but it might do what you what and it involves using the "Keyboard Viewer."

Here goes:

If you don't already have the "International Input menu" menulet enabled, please do so by going to System Preferences > International > Input Menu.

Put a check mark next to the box that says "keyboard viewer." Also put a check mark next to the box at the bottom left of the preferance pane that says "Show input menu in menu bar."

There should now be a little American Flag next to the Day/Time in the upper right-hand corner of your display. Click on the flag and select "Show Keyboard Viewer."

A little graphic of your keyboard should then appear on your screen. Each time you press a key on the real keyboard, you'll see the key depress on the little Keyboard viewer.

OK, so far so good.

Now press the F6 key for "num lock" mode. When you do, you'll notice most of the key functions of the Keyboard Viewer disappear and the number pad is visible on the J, K, L, U, I, O keys as it should be in "num lock" mode.

You'll also notice that if you press the actual space bar on the real keyboard while in "num lock" mode, you won't see the space bar on the Keyboard Viewer activated. That's consistent with it being inactivated while in "num lock" mode.

BUT if you press the space bar on the Keyboard Viewer (by moving your cursor to the pace bar and clicking in it), not the real space bar on the real keyboard but the simulated one on the Keyboard Viewer, it appears to function like a real space bar.

I tried it in a plain text doc and it worked. While in "num lock" mode, I was able to type two numbers by using the real numeric keypad on the real keyboard, then click the Keyboard Viewer's space bar and insert a space, and then type two more numbers from the real keyboard.

Of course, I don't know if the above work around will work in your particular software application, and I realize it's not very pretty, but it seems like it it's worth a shot.

Let us know what happens.

-- JDee

Hey JDee,

Thanks for that info. As I said before I really don't use numlock so this doesn't impact me, at least for the moment. Guess I'll just add this to the list along with the SMS. Anything else broken?? ; )

Jrsy

I'm working on a corollary to "if it ain't broke don't fix it."

It's "even if it is broke, but you can still do everything you need to with it, don't fix it."

Waddya think?

I'm just hoping I won't have to make any balloon payments on all this time I'm borrowing.....

Hey, thats catchy. Better get the jump on marketing that now so when that ballon payment comes you'll have some coin to throw down!

Ooops, that was supposed to be balloon but alas, the edit button is missing today.

Sounds worse somehow the first way, no? 😉

Wish we could have been more helpful, kika. Don't know why they felt the need to turn the space bar off in num lock.

BTW, I just noticed your specs: where'd you get that PowerBook G5. I've been looking for one of those for the longest time! 😉

Hi kika,

Intersting problem you, and it appears Jrsy Man and JDee, have there.

I just hit my numlock key and my spacebar does work. Try creating a new account and see if the symptoms persist?

Have you installed any 3rd party utility software recently (freeware or shareware)?

Have you played around with the Keyboard settings in System Preferences?

RD

652 665 65 612 0235

I typed the above (random) numbers with 'numlock' enabled. As you can see the spacebar works 😉

I'm currently messing around with a few settings in System Preferences in an attempt to re-create the symptoms. The fact that both Jrsy Man and JDee are both having exactly the same problem really does intrigue me as they are both knowledgeable. That fact eliminates the 'user error' option; at least it should do and that's how I will proceed 😉

Will post back with further ideas after I've completed messing up my system 😉

The fact that both Jrsy Man and JDee are both having exactly the same problem really does intrigue me as they are both knowledgeable. That fact eliminates the 'user error' option;

Appreciate that vote of confidence, RD. 😉

I'm continuing to follow this thread, as I can't imagine what might explain it. I've got a pretty streamlined set up, lots of basic software, nothing exotic, no hacks, and so I'm just at a loss. I've tried tinkering with a variety of Keyboard modifier keys and shortcut settings, but they've had no effect.

If you have any ideas or anything you want me to try to help possibly troubleshoot this, just holler.

-- JDee

Hi Red,

Like JDee, I too appreciated your vote of confidence. Unfortunately though I have to report the numlock is still not working for me even with an different user account. I haven't installed any 3rd party software recently nor do I recall messing around with the keyboard settings. The fact that it's a global issue and not just limited to my user account leads me to believe there's a larger bug at work here. Perhaps something didn't install properly during my last update to 10.4.4? There have been instances where other users have had issues whereas I, with the same system did not so I'm not at all surprised by this. That and the fact that it currently poses no negative impact on operating my PowerBook or anything I need to get done means I'm probably not going to devote a whole lot of time to it. I will however follow this thread in the event you or someone else makes some progress with a resolution. Thanks again.

Jrsy