Weird Keyboard Behavior

[Rick Stern]

I am writing to ask if anyone can give me some idea why some Microsoft
applications are experiencing some weird keyboard behavior.

Randomly, the " and @ symbols on my keyboard will exchange places. In other
words, I have to push SHIFT+2 to get the " sign and 'SHIFT+' in order to get
the @ sign.

This affects MSWord and MSPowerpoint. (I am using Office 2000). I use
Netscape for email and this behavior doesn't affect that program, nor does
it affect MSExcel. Once it starts in one MS app, it will be the same in
other. I am therefore certain something is happening within these MS apps
to cause this, though I'm not sure if it's in Word or Powerpoint.

It seems that once this has started within a particular document or
presentation, it will recur at some time when that file is opened again,
though not necessarily when the file is first opened.

I have replaced the keyboard on the affected computer, but the problem
started recurring several days later.

I would appreciate any direction on this that can be provided.
rs

 

[Bill Dilworth]

This sounds like it has more to do with a keyboard driver than with
PowerPoint directly. But, here are the things I would check if this was
happening to me: (random order)

1) AutoCorrect. Tools | AutoCorrect Options ... | {tab} AutoCorrect | and
check the list to see if @ is there and what is to be substituted, same with
"

2) Start | Settings | Control Panel | Keyboard | Language | Change and check
what settings are being used. Do they match what you are using?

3) Keyboard driver. See if there is an updated driver available for your
system. (unlikely, these drivers almost never change) It is also possible
that yours has become corrupted, reload it, if possible.

4) Check for bad/worn-out keyboard/connections. Try replacing the keyboard
with another. If the problem resolves, replace the keyboard. (keyboards
can be had cheap)

5) Office language Settings. Start | Programs | Microsoft Office Tools |
Language Settings and again check to see if what is displayed is what you
are currently using.

--
Bill Dilworth, Microsoft PPT MVP
===============
Please spend a few minutes checking vestprog2@
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answer most of our questions, before com
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Change org to com to defuse anti-spam,
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..
..

 

[John Langhans [MSFT]]

[CRITICAL UPDATE - Anyone using Office 2003 should install the critical
update as soon as possible. From PowerPoint, choose "Help -> Check for
Updates".]

This sounds like multiple keyboard languages have been installed on the
system and that you are inadvertently switching from the English U.S.
keyboard settingso to another keyboard setting (such as English U.K.) by
hitting whatever reserved keystroke combination has been specified in the
"Regional and Lanuag Options" control panel.

Since I work with several keyboard settings on a regular basis, I usually
specify (through the control panel) that the "Language Bar Settings" are
set to "Show the Language bar on the desktop" and "Show additional language
bar icons in the taskbar" so that I can easily see when I have switched to
another keyboard language and also easily make a different keyboard
language active.

John Langhans
Microsoft Corporation
Supportability Program Manager
Microsoft Office PowerPoint for Windows
Microsoft Office Picture Manager for Windows

For FAQ's, highlights and top issues, visit the Microsoft PowerPoint
support center at: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=ppt
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base at:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbhowto

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