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John Swaringen
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Odd keyboard behavior - Dreamweaver CS4 - CSS files

May 28, 2009 2:36 PM

I've got a really frustrating issue. Whenever I'm editing a .CSS file, I'm getting some seriously wacky behavior.  I'll be editing and things will be fine for a bit, but then I'll hold down the <Shift> key and no key other than the letters will function properly, the whole document will highlight, or delete, or nothing.  I'll end up in random places.  It's so bad I've started editing my CSS in notepad++ just to save my hair.

 

The really weird thing is it ONLY happens in .CSS files.  HTML, JS, etc. are all normal.  I'm a touch typist (homage to Ms. Martin in high school) and use the keyboard alot for things like copying lines, cutting and pasting.  At first I thought it might be my keyboard but I have 2 different Microsoft Keyboards, and then the laptop keyboard and the behavior is the same on all of them.

 

My setup in case it makes any difference is:

 

  • HP EliteBook 8530w
  • ATI FireGL video card 256mb
  • Windows XP SP3
  • Dreamweaver CS4

 

Keyboards in question are:

  • Laptop keyboard
  • Microsoft Wireless Ergonomic Keyboard 7000
  • Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000

 

What I've tried:

  • Updating drivers
  • Remapping keys in Dreamweaver
  • Checking Windows keymappings
  • Disabling IntelliType from microsoft.

 

So far nothing works.

2075 Views   11 Replies   Latest reply: ReFrito, Apr 21, 2011 4:21 PM
 
Replies
  • Randy Edmunds
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    1. Randy Edmunds,
    May 30, 2009 11:05 AM   in reply to John Swaringen
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    John,

     

    Whenever I'm editing a .CSS file, I'm getting some seriously wacky behavior...

     

    It sounds like you may have a corrupted accelerator key cache. Try deleting the folder which is usually here:

    C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Adobe\Dreamweaver CS4\[lang]\Configuration\Menus\Cache

     

    If that doesn't fix it, try deleting the file cache as described in Step #4 of this TechNote:

    http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/191/tn_19105.html

     

    After that try deleting the entire User Configuration folder (Step #12).

     

    HTH,

    Randy

     
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  • John Swaringen
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    2. John Swaringen,
    Jun 1, 2009 12:59 PM   in reply to Randy Edmunds
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    Thanks Randy,

     

    Tried those and nothing.  I'm noticing now that whenever I load a .CSS file it highlights the entire document without me doing anything.  Then whenever I try to move anywhere in it it highlights it again.  <Ctrl>+<C> and <Ctrl>+<V> are useless. 

     

    My next step is to remove everything and try to re-install it.  Frustrating, but I don't see where I've got any other choice.

     
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  • John Swaringen
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    3. John Swaringen,
    Jun 2, 2009 10:20 AM   in reply to John Swaringen
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    I performed an uninstall of the product (Web Premium) and then a removal using the removal tool, just in case.  Still no luck.  I have isolated it a bit further however.  It seems to occurr when I switch from an HTML file to a .CSS file.  The primare case would be:

     

    Copying something from the HTML such as a class name and clicking on the CSS file tab (having it opened in a new tab).  Then trying to paste it.  It will delete the entire CSS contents and paste just the class name.  If I paste with the mouse it works, however not the <Ctrl>+<V>.   It's crazy, I've logged an incident with Adobe Support and am waiting... (since Friday).

     
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  • John Swaringen
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    4. John Swaringen,
    Jun 2, 2009 3:23 PM   in reply to John Swaringen
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    Well after much further frustration I believe I've uncovered a bug.  It would appear the culprit is the "APP DEVELOPER" and "APP DEVELOPER PLUS" layouts. (Who'd of thunk it?)  It seems that if I you're running in either one of those you'll get the weird behavior when you go from the first page tab, to a second page tab of any type.  I switched to the "CODER" layout and voliá...   

     

    I was even able to recreate the "APP DEVELOPER" and "APP DEVELOPER PLUS" layouts using a custom layout, and had no trouble.  So it's something in those layouts.  Fun stuff...  Anyway I added that to my support request so hopefully they'll submit it as a bug.

     
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  • Randy Edmunds
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    5. Randy Edmunds,
    Jun 2, 2009 3:40 PM   in reply to John Swaringen
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    Glad to hear that you figured it out. Thanks for providing the details for others who may run into the same problem.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Randy Edmunds

    Dreamweaver Development

    Adobe Systems, Inc.

     
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  • John Swaringen
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    6. John Swaringen,
    Jun 13, 2009 9:17 PM   in reply to John Swaringen
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    Well what seemed to be solved now isn't.  I continue to have the problem and I've figured out how to reproduce it:

     

    1. Open an HTML file.
    2. Open a CSS file in a separate tab.
    3. Edit something in either file, then switch to the other one.
    4. Hold down the <Shift> key and press the right or left <Arrorw> key to highlight a line.

     

    The entire document will be highlighted and you will be unable to scroll up or down without highlighting the document.  It doesn't seem to happen on XP anymore, but it does on Vista, and Windows 7.

     
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  • David_Powers
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    7. David_Powers,
    Jun 14, 2009 1:52 AM   in reply to John Swaringen
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    I have followed your steps, using the Classic layout on Vista Business Premium, and cannot reproduce the problem. I'm not denying that the problem exists, because you're not the only person to report similar difficulties. However, I have never been able to reproduce this phenomenon, nor has it ever happened to anyone at the training centre where I teach Dreamweaver using both XP and Vista. Very odd.

     
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  • Nadia-P
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    8. Nadia-P,
    Jun 14, 2009 2:35 AM   in reply to David_Powers
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    David_Powers wrote:

     

    I have followed your steps, using the Classic layout on Vista Business Premium, and cannot reproduce the problem. Vista. Very odd.

     

    Same specs and I too, cannot reproduce the problem.

     

    I have a few oddities with my version of CS4, so I know how frustrating something like this can be  :-(

     
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  • Randy Edmunds
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    9. Randy Edmunds,
    Jun 14, 2009 10:29 AM   in reply to John Swaringen
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    Hey John,

    Well what seemed to be solved now isn't.  I continue to have the problem and I've figured out how to reproduce it:

     

     

    1. Open an HTML file.
    2. Open a CSS file in a separate tab.
    3. Edit something in either file, then switch to the other one.
    4. Hold down the <Shift> key and press the right or left <Arrorw> key to highlight a line.

     

    The entire document will be highlighted and you will be unable to scroll up or down without highlighting the document.  It doesn't seem to happen on XP anymore, but it does on Vista, and Windows 7.

     

    Thanks for working out the details and reporting it here. I have fixed that bug for the next release. From what I remember, the edits in Step #3 have to be done in a particular order to cause the problem.

     

    Here are a couple ways to workaround it:

     

    1. If you want the CSS files in a separate Tab, then you may want to disable the Related Files feature in Preferences > General

     

    2. I think it depends on how you switch from 1 file to the other, and clicking with the mouse in the file you want to have the focus resets the focus.

     

    Sorry for the inconvenience,

     

    Randy Edmunds

    Dreamweaver Development

    Adobe Systems, Inc.

     
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  • John Swaringen
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    10. John Swaringen,
    Jun 14, 2009 5:17 PM   in reply to Randy Edmunds
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    Thanks I will try that.  I don't always want them opened in a new tab, but when I'm working with what I call a "base" CSS file that is used for multiple pages then I sometimes do.  I use multiple CSS files per project usually a base, print, color (when there's themes) and a page specific one.  As far as the views go I've tried a few and it seems to be OK for a while.  Usually until I switch again. 

     

    You're right it does appear to be when you switch "just right" to the file. 

     

    Thanks for the help.

     
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  • ReFrito
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    11. ReFrito,
    Apr 21, 2011 4:21 PM   in reply to Randy Edmunds
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    Hy Randy, I'm having almost the same behaviour that John reports in DW CS4 but not only with.css files. I looked for updates (Help menu/updates) but it didn't find any for Dreamweaver, can you tell me how to fix the problem?

     

    Thanks a lot for your time.

    Fred

     
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