Can't type without clicking first

[Guest]

I have a shortcut to www.google.com in my lower left task bar. When I open
it, the cursor is blinking in the box where you type what you're searching
for. However, my typing won't appear in the box until I first use the mouse
to click inside the box. I don't have this problem on other pages.

Is this something I can fix or is it Google who should change something at
this web page?

 

[Rob Parsons]

Check that you have scripting enabled - Internet Options\Security\Internet
Zone.... set to medium level (default)

The Google search page uses javascript to place the cursor in the search
text box when the page is loaded, but since there is only the one text box
on the page the cursor goes there even when scripting is not enabled. In
your case clicking on the search text box gives it the focus along with the
cursor carot.

 

[Guest]

Rob, In Windows XP, IE6, my Internet Zone security was already set to Medium,
but when I first open a new window shortcut to www.google.com, it still won't
let me just start typing until I first click in the text box.

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

Rob, In Windows XP, IE6, my Internet Zone security was already set to Medium,
but when I first open a new window shortcut to www.google.com, it still won't
let me just start typing until I first click in the text box.

Instead of clicking there find out whether keyboard focus was really there
by pressing Tab and Backtab.

Another thing which could be affecting the script that Rob Parsons pointed
out is script blocking software which is present in some security products.
If you have any software with such features enabled try disabling it or
removing the software.

It may also be useful to know if you have AutoComplete for Forms active
and whether it is working on that page's input field. (Options, Content tab,
AutoComplete Settings dialog)


HTH

Robert Aldwinckle
---

 

[Guest]

Rob,
If I press Alt-Tab first, I can type in the text window. AutoComplete is on
and working. Turning off Windows XP's popup blocker or SBC Yahoo's AntiVirus
did not help. I also have Windows XP's Firewall (which I did not turn off).
I'm supposed to have Windows XP's Anti-Spyware, but I can't find it. I
looked in the Security Center, but that only shows there's the firewall,
antivirus, and auto updates. Where is Windows XP's anti-spyware and how do I
know it's doing anything and how do I access its settings?

I also viewed Manage Add-ons, Programs, and Google Toolbar & Toolbar Helper
are disabled while Google Script Object is Enabled. Internet Options,
Security, Internet Zone is on Medium and Privacy was on Accept all Cookies
(which I changed to Low). Any other ideas?

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

....

:

Rob,
If I press Alt-Tab first,

Alt-Tab is a completely different command (used to switch windows).

I can type in the text window.

That's interesting and unexpected. Alt-Tab is even less invasive than the Tab
I suggested. E.g. usually it doesn't even cause a stop to rendering in progress.
Does Esc (or clicking Stop) have the desired effect too?

Try the Tab command though because you still don't have clear proof
that keyboard focus is originally available in the window you want.
Another indicator that keyboard focus is in the wrong place,
perhaps even in the wrong window, would be the color of the
target window's title bar.

AutoComplete is on and working.
Turning off Windows XP's popup blocker or SBC Yahoo's AntiVirus
did not help. I also have Windows XP's Firewall (which I did not turn off).
I'm supposed to have Windows XP's Anti-Spyware, but I can't find it. I
looked in the Security Center, but that only shows there's the firewall,
antivirus, and auto updates. Where is Windows XP's anti-spyware and how do I
know it's doing anything and how do I access its settings?

Are you thinking about Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool
or do you actually have the Antispyware (Beta) installed?
In either case you may find more knowledgeable help in another
newsgroup:

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/default.mspx


Neither product AFAIK does what I am thinking of
(e.g. actually modifying HTML source by removing
instances of scripting).

I also viewed Manage Add-ons, Programs, and Google Toolbar & Toolbar Helper
are disabled while Google Script Object is Enabled. Internet Options,
Security, Internet Zone is on Medium and Privacy was on Accept all Cookies
(which I changed to Low). Any other ideas?

HTH

Robert
---

 

[Guest]

Tab still doesn't provide focus. Esc doesn't either. When www.google.com is
first opened, the title bar at top is light blue and when I hover over the
stop (red x) icon, the word "Stop" does not show. However, I am able to
click on stop which then turns the title bar dark blue, shows the word "Stop"
when I hover over it, and lets me type in the text window.

When I open www.maps.google.com, I can just start typing an address or zip
code in the text window. (I also realized that Microsoft's Beta AntiSpyware
was never downloaded so I have that working now).

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

Tab still doesn't provide focus. Esc doesn't either. When www.google.com is
first opened, the title bar at top is light blue and when I hover over the
stop (red x) icon, the word "Stop" does not show. However, I am able to
click on stop which then turns the title bar dark blue, shows the word "Stop"
when I hover over it, and lets me type in the text window.

There you go. That means that the task which has focus is not the top
window.

In order to find out where the focus is try using your keyboard.
E.g. what does Alt-Space do? what does Menu key do?

My guess is that you will find that is either some other window
or the Taskbar itself. E.g. for the latter case Alt-Space + Close
would give you the shutdown prompt and Menu, Properties would
open the Taskbar and Start menu Properties dialog. Etc.

When I open www.maps.google.com, I can just start typing an address or zip
code in the text window. (I also realized that Microsoft's Beta AntiSpyware
was never downloaded so I have that working now).

What about that last Google related add-on you mentioned.
Have you tried disabling or removing it too? Something is getting
focus for some reason when the site name is google.com.


HTH

Robert
---

 

[Guest]

When I first open the google window, the title is dark blue (no focus).
After a couple seconds, it turns light blue (still no focus). Alt-space
opens a lower left menu box with Move, Size, & Close choices (other choices
are dim). If I press Esc, still no focus. If I press "C" for Close, I get
the shutdown prompt. If I press cancel, I have focus.

Starting over, if I press Menu key, I get a menu box (sometimes right
bottom, sometimes left top). If I press Esc, still no focus. If I press "R"
for Properties, I get the Taskbar/Start menu. If I press Esc, I now have
focus and can type. Now if I press the Menu key, I get a Menu box in the
lower left or upper right corner with Delete & Select All choices (other
choices are dim).

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

....

When I first open the google window, the title is dark blue (no focus).
After a couple seconds, it turns light blue (still no focus). Alt-space
opens a lower left menu box with Move, Size, & Close choices (other choices
are dim). If I press Esc, still no focus. If I press "C" for Close, I get
the shutdown prompt. If I press cancel, I have focus.

Starting over, if I press Menu key, I get a menu box (sometimes right
bottom, sometimes left top). If I press Esc, still no focus. If I press "R"
for Properties, I get the Taskbar/Start menu. If I press Esc, I now have
focus and can type. Now if I press the Menu key, I get a Menu box in the
lower left or upper right corner with Delete & Select All choices (other
choices are dim).

Now I think your symptoms are showing that the problem is more related
to how you are launching that window than what is being launched.

(Quote from your opening post

9> I have a shortcut to www.google.com in my lower left task bar.

Let's test that idea. First it is relevant to know if your Taskbar is set to
Auto-hide. In any case try toggling that option to see if it changes your
symptom. E.g. if it is already set to Auto-hide but the Taskbar isn't going
away that would explain your symptom. Etc.

Alternatively you could try finding a different way to launch the same URL
and see if you had a problem that way. For example, if you can launch
it successfully using a Favorite or a Desktop shortcut instead you would
see that the Taskbar was a more signficant factor than the fact that it was
opening the Google site. You could also try giving any of those shortcuts
a keyboard shortcut and see if launching it that way made any difference.
E.g. that way you could eliminate the mouse as a factor too.


Good luck

Robert
---

 

[Guest]

Toggling the auto-hide for the task bar didn't make any difference. Opening
Google from my favorites instead of my shortcut icon in the lower left task
bar does allow me to start typing right away.

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

Toggling the auto-hide for the task bar didn't make any difference.

What does that mean specifically? That the Taskbar does not Auto-hide
when you use that icon? Have you tried avoiding using the mouse and
launching using the keyboard only (either navigating to it or assigning a
shortcut to it and using that?)

Otherwise are you saying that the Taskbar hid after you used your shortcut
*and* you are still finding that the Taskbar has focus? That was the point
of the test, to see if Auto-hide would remove focus from the Taskbar.

Opening
Google from my favorites instead of my shortcut icon in the lower left task
bar does allow me to start typing right away.

Good, so you have a satisfactory workaround?


HTH

Robert
---

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your help Robert. I just meant that whether I used auto-hide on
the taskbar or not, I couldn't start typing in the Google text box in either
case without first doing something to get focus (using auto-hide made no
difference). Opening a Google window from Favorites allows me to just start
typing. I just wanted to be able to do the same when I open Google from a
shortcut in the taskbar instead (saves some keystrokes). Microsoft Windows
XP/Internet Explorer 6 is doing something different when both methods should
provide the same results. Just a quirk in the software?