Can't Insert Text!!!

[gmark]

All of a sudden, I can't edit documents -- can't insert any text. I've
tried creating new docs, changing fonts. I can cut and paste into a
document, and can type numbers with the num-lock on. I've got a backup
login which uses the same global application, and it works fine. I've
looked in help and tried turning off various utilities. I don't recall
changing anything. I've even reloaded the entire office 2004 suite.
I'm running 10.4.10. Every other application works fine, even the
others in MS office 2004, like Powerpoint.

Any idea what could cause this and how to fix it?

Mark

 

[sbt]

All of a sudden, I can't edit documents -- can't insert any text. I've
tried creating new docs, changing fonts. I can cut and paste into a
document, and can type numbers with the num-lock on. I've got a backup
login which uses the same global application, and it works fine. I've
looked in help and tried turning off various utilities. I don't recall
changing anything. I've even reloaded the entire office 2004 suite.
I'm running 10.4.10. Every other application works fine, even the
others in MS office 2004, like Powerpoint.

Any idea what could cause this and how to fix it?

Have you tried deleting your MS Word prefs?

 

[dorayme]

All of a sudden, I can't edit documents -- can't insert any text. I've
tried creating new docs, changing fonts. I can cut and paste into a
document, and can type numbers with the num-lock on. I've got a backup
login which uses the same global application, and it works fine. I've
looked in help and tried turning off various utilities. I don't recall
changing anything. I've even reloaded the entire office 2004 suite.
I'm running 10.4.10. Every other application works fine, even the
others in MS office 2004, like Powerpoint.

Any idea what could cause this and how to fix it?

Mark

Last time I had something like this, I restarted. That's all I
can suggest first off.

 

[Dave Balderstone]

All of a sudden, I can't edit documents -- can't insert any text. I've
tried creating new docs, changing fonts. I can cut and paste into a
document, and can type numbers with the num-lock on. I've got a backup
login which uses the same global application, and it works fine. I've
looked in help and tried turning off various utilities. I don't recall
changing anything. I've even reloaded the entire office 2004 suite.
I'm running 10.4.10. Every other application works fine, even the
others in MS office 2004, like Powerpoint.

Any idea what could cause this and how to fix it?

Have you tried rebooting?

 

[gmark]

Have you tried deleting your MS Word prefs?

Yeah. No joy.

Mark

 

[gmark]

Last time I had something like this, I restarted. That's all I
can suggest first off.

Yup. No joy there, either.

Mark

 

[gmark]

Have you tried rebooting?

That, too. Nothing.

Mark

 

[patrick j]

Last time I had something like this, I restarted. That's all I
can suggest first off.

I hope your restarted the computer and not yourself

 

[John McGhie]

OK, time to get serious: I need a lot more detail to be able to really
track this one down.

What indication do you get when you try? Is this in all documents, new
documents, or only "some" documents? Are these documents scanned or typed?

What I am thinking at the moment is that someone has flipped "Protect
Document" on for your Normal template. If the document is protected for
forms, and there re no form fields, you indeed won't be able to type.

Have a look on the Tools menu: if the item reads "Unprotect document",
that's it. Unprotect it to regain your writing ability.

There are a couple of other things that could do it, but my guess is Protect
Document

Cheers

That, too. Nothing.

Mark

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

 

[gmark]

OK, time to get serious: I need a lot more detail to be able to really
track this one down.

What indication do you get when you try? Is this in all documents, new
documents, or only "some" documents? Are these documents scanned or typed?

What I am thinking at the moment is that someone has flipped "Protect
Document" on for your Normal template. If the document is protected for
forms, and there re no form fields, you indeed won't be able to type.

Have a look on the Tools menu: if the item reads "Unprotect document",
that's it. Unprotect it to regain your writing ability.

There are a couple of other things that could do it, but my guess is Protect
Document

Okay -- nope. No "unprotect document".

For all documents, no matter what type, and whether existing or new,
blank
document, the symptom is that whatever I type is ignored -- as though
the
keyboard is not connected at all. HOWEVER -- if I put on the "numlock"
key,
all the numbers DO show up. And pasting into the document works.

You mention templates. I know very little about templates, but is it
possible
that one of these is corrupted, and is not associated with the other
login?
So that it expects something for this particular login that all the
non-numeric
keyboard characters are not providing? Are templates stored
somewhere
similar to caches, so that I can just blow one or more away and have
it
reconstituted to some default state?

That's all I can think of at present.

Mark

 

[The Natural Philosopher]

Okay -- nope. No "unprotect document".

For all documents, no matter what type, and whether existing or new,
blank
document, the symptom is that whatever I type is ignored -- as though
the
keyboard is not connected at all. HOWEVER -- if I put on the "numlock"
key,
all the numbers DO show up. And pasting into the document works.

You mention templates. I know very little about templates, but is it
possible
that one of these is corrupted, and is not associated with the other
login?
So that it expects something for this particular login that all the
non-numeric
keyboard characters are not providing? Are templates stored
somewhere
similar to caches, so that I can just blow one or more away and have
it
reconstituted to some default state?

That's all I can think of at present.

Mark

Can I confirm that this is associated both with one user only and also
with one PROGRAM (MS WORD) also? I.e. can you type stuff into web
browser URLs etc etc etc.

If it is, the easiest thing to do is to get to the per user preferences
of WORD and delete them.


If not,. its think again time..

 

[CyberTaz]

Okay -- nope. No "unprotect document".

For all documents, no matter what type, and whether existing or new,
blank
document, the symptom is that whatever I type is ignored -- as though
the
keyboard is not connected at all. HOWEVER -- if I put on the "numlock"
key,
all the numbers DO show up. And pasting into the document works.

You mention templates. I know very little about templates, but is it
possible
that one of these is corrupted, and is not associated with the other
login?
So that it expects something for this particular login that all the
non-numeric
keyboard characters are not providing? Are templates stored
somewhere
similar to caches, so that I can just blow one or more away and have
it
reconstituted to some default state?

That's all I can think of at present.

Mark

OK, this is a real stretch, but...

Make sure non-printing characters (¶ button) are displayed. You can also try
typing something into a new doc then do Command+A & select Clear Formatting
from the Formatting Palette.

Does anything appear now? If so you've managed to get the Hidden attribute
applied to your text - most likely by inadvertently modifying a style
(probably the Normal para style) which has been saved to the Normal
template. Should this prove to be the case & you're not sure how to rectify
it post back for clarification.

If this is as off-base as it could be here's another straw to grasp at: Do
you see the insertion bar (cursor) move as you type? Is it not visible at
all? It's possible you have the font color set to white, which, again, may
have been saved to the Normal para style. The Clear Formatting suggested
above or changing the font color may be effective in finding out.

What's really curious, though, is that either of those remote possibilities
should also apply to entry made from the numeric keypad. What type of Mac
are you using & do you have a 3rd party keyboard?

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Gerry]

OK, this is a real stretch, but...

Make sure non-printing characters (¶ button) are displayed. You can also try
typing something into a new doc then do Command+A & select Clear Formatting
from the Formatting Palette.

While we're going after the "is it plugged in"-type questions (there
oughta be a name for that kind of investigation), I'd suggest that you
ensure you don't have the default font set to color=white.

 

[gmark]

Can I confirm that this is associated both with one user only and also
with one PROGRAM (MS WORD) also? I.e. can you type stuff into web
browser URLs etc etc etc.

If it is, the easiest thing to do is to get to the per user preferences
of WORD and delete them.

If not,. its think again time..

Right on all counts -- one of two users -- other user (using the same
copy
of MSword, I might add) is fine. Won't accept input (except via the
numeric
keys with numlock on, which makes me think it's keyboard-translation
related).
Every other application is fine. Already deleted the preferences.

Is there any other file or files that affect the behavior of MSword
that are
user-specific? Or common datafile that, say, some user-specific
utility or
preference might might be affecting MSword? That other applications
generally
don't use? Or some user setting that only MSword would use?

I'd hate to just trash all the user-specific stuff in the Library
directory,
because then I'd never know what the real cause is, and I'm more
curious than
annoyed at this point, since I can always go to the other user account
to do
anything important in MSword.

Mark

 

[gmark]

While we're going after the "is it plugged in"-type questions (there
oughta be a name for that kind of investigation), I'd suggest that you
ensure you don't have the default font set to color=white.

I'm using a rather new Macbook pro, and no external input devices. I
was thinking
of the font thing, but I checked the color and used various fonts and
pointsizes
and cleared formatting.

I'm wondering if there's something that's actually corrupting what
settings are
SEEN -- like the color showing as black in the toolbar, but being set
otherwise
in the data. But then, the cursor doesn't move either (unless, as I
said, I have
the num-lock on and type only numbers, which leads us back to
character set, but....)

Mark

 

[gmark]

While we're going after the "is it plugged in"-type questions (there
oughta be a name for that kind of investigation), I'd suggest that you
ensure you don't have the default font set to color=white.

These "numeric keys" are the UIOJKLM keys that are multipurpose.

Another weird thing is that holding down fn or option keys results in
special characters when other keys are also pressed, so it seems
character
set dependent, and for ALL fonts. Is there a user-specific font
directory
or property folder or file of some kind? A Unix permission problem,
perhaps?

Mark

 

[CyberTaz]

These "numeric keys" are the UIOJKLM keys that are multipurpose.

Another weird thing is that holding down fn or option keys results in
special characters when other keys are also pressed, so it seems
character
set dependent, and for ALL fonts. Is there a user-specific font
directory
or property folder or file of some kind? A Unix permission problem,
perhaps?

Mark

What happens if you launch Word while holding the Shift key? That will
bypass any "outside influences" and may help narrow down the possibilities.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[gmark]

What happens if you launch Word while holding the Shift key? That will
bypass any "outside influences" and may help narrow down the possibilities.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

Ah HAH! GREAT tip!! (Wonder why I didn't hear of this before...
similar to
the old "starting without extensions"?) And it worked!

So... what other files than Preferences and Templates are included in
these
"outside influences"? Maybe something I can kill in the shell?

THANKS!

Mark

 

[CyberTaz]

<snip>

Ah HAH! GREAT tip!! (Wonder why I didn't hear of this before...
similar to
the old "starting without extensions"?) And it worked!

So... what other files than Preferences and Templates are included in
these
"outside influences"? Maybe something I can kill in the shell?

THANKS!

Mark

If you're *certain* that there are no utilities or haxies installed for this
user, there are no customizations for the account or its settings & the
program runs fine for another account there isn't much else it can be.

While NO Office apps are running: Go into your User/Library/Preferences
folder for that user & remove the file by the name of;

com.microsoft.word.plist

And in the Microsoft folder within that same Preferences folder remove;

com.microsoft.Word.prefs.plist

Also: In User/Documents/Microsoft User Data remove/rename the file called
Normal (which looks like a Word file).

Restart Word & see how it goes. If all is well & you have no serious
customizations or macros you're concerned about you can then Trash the files
you removed/renamed & empty the Trash.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[dorayme]

I hope your restarted the computer and not yourself

Yes, for this particular fault. But there _are_ many others that
require self restart. <g>