Powerpoint acts as if ctrl or shift is pressed

[debugger_partner]

Running Vista Business with Office 2003 SP3

The strangest things happen in Powerpoint

* When trying to move a box Powerpoint instead copies the box.. like it
would if ctrl was pressed while dragging.

* When clicking in the middle of a textbox full of content.. Instead of
the cursor ending up in that place, powerpoint selects all the text from
the beginning of the box up to the place I clicked. Like it would if the
cursor was sitting in the beginning of the text and I was to hold down
SHIFT and click in the middle of the content

+ Powerpoint acts like this All The Time, no just occasionally
+ This only happens in Powerpoint, not in any other office application.

+ Other people in the office have the exact same setup of
computer/software but doesn't have this problem.

I've been searching through all the settings for some kind of
"sticky-keys" option that might have been enabled but haven't found
anything. Of course I could re-install Office but I'd rather not if
this is fixable.

Any clues?

Matti Jääaro
Debugger Partner AB

 

[Guest]

Before delving ,more deeply - you are sure it's not a flaky keyboard?
--
Amazing PPT Hints, Tips and Tutorials

http://www.PPTAlchemy.co.uk
http://www.technologytrish.co.uk
email john AT technologytrish.co.uk

 

[Echo S]

Try this:

Office shapes move or duplicate themselves when I click them (VISTA)
http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00882.htm


--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PowerPoint 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
(New!) The PowerPoint 2007 Complete Makeover Kit http://tinyurl.com/2qzlpl
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/index.html

 

[debugger_partner]

The problem with office content that jumps when you click on it is
something I've seen on other machines but not on this one. I tried the
compatibility setting just in case but that didn't fix the problem. I
then tried repair on office. Then I removed powerpoint and added it
again. After that I remove office completely, rebooted, and then
installed it. Same thing.

One clarification. I can move a box if I just click it and drag it to a
new position. But I cannot use ctrl to select multiple boxes, as soon as
I do so they duplicate. For example.. I click on box 1 then hold down
ctrl and click box 2. Both are now selected. I release ctrl and the
little + icon on the mouse pointer disappears. When I drag the two
selected boxes I end up with 4. For the same reason, it's impossible to
select two boxes and align them without duplicating them.

Any ideas?

 

[Echo S]

The only solution I know to this is the one described in the FAQ I linked to
before -- disable desktop composition on powerpnt.EXE. (Based on your
description, "tried the compatibility setting," I can't tell if that's what
you did or not.)

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PowerPoint 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
(New!) The PowerPoint 2007 Complete Makeover Kit http://tinyurl.com/2qzlpl
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/index.html

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

One clarification. I can move a box if I just click it and drag it to a
new position. But I cannot use ctrl to select multiple boxes, as soon as
I do so they duplicate. For example.. I click on box 1 then hold down
ctrl and click box 2. Both are now selected. I release ctrl and the
little + icon on the mouse pointer disappears. When I drag the two
selected boxes I end up with 4. For the same reason, it's impossible to
select two boxes and align them without duplicating them.

Any ideas?

Several people have noticed that things involving the mouse are a lot
"twitchier" under PPT2007 for some reason. It seems to vary by computer. You
can usually tell by looking the users; some have large piles of hair at their
feet after every edit-points session, some don't.

You might want to adjust your mouse settings for lower sensitivity (in control
panel) to see if that helps some.

Otherwise, be VERY careful not to move the mouse at all while clicking when
you're doing this kind of thing. Try installing and using a mouse if you're
currently using the touchpad on a laptop.