Adobe Illustrator CC backslash keyboard shortcut not working

[kimberlyt93164816]

When I use the backslash key to clear the fill colour in Adobe Illustrator CC, nothing happens. I checked the keyboard shortcut menu and it has the shortcut set as the backslash key. I am able to type with the backslash key but I am not able to use it as a keyboard shortcut. Does anybody know why this is happening?

[Monika Gause]

Which language is Illustrator?

Which language is your system?

Which language is your keyboard?

[kimberlyt93164816]

My language is Canadian english, My computer is Canadian English and my input language is US English

[Kurt Gold]

Are you using a Macintosh OS or a Windows OS?

[kimberlyt93164816]

windows

[Monika Gause]

Unfortunately I don't know the details of Canadian or US English keyboard layout.

US English is documented well - can you perhaps look it up online and compare to your layout - are there differences?

But even if there are no differences to be seen, it might make a difference technically and just not work. You could just try out some of the keys and see if they work.

You could also try if you could change them in your shortcuts dialog box. Or just re-enter the backslash. Maybe Illustrator accepts it then.

But differing keyboard layouts, application language and system language unfortunately is an issue that might just stay unsolved.

[Bill Silbert · Accepted solution]

Try deleting your Illustrator preferences.

To do so:

For Macintosh Users: With Illustrator closed launch a Finder Window in column view and click on your home folder. With the Option Key pressed choose Library from the Finder Go Menu. Within the Library folder find the following two files and delete them: “Adobe Illustrator <Version #> Settings” (earlier versions of Illustrator might just say “Adobe Illustrator”) and “com.adobe.Illustrator.plist”. When Illustrator is next launched it will create new preference files and the program will be restored to its defaults.

After you’ve reset up the program (make sure that no document window is open) to your liking, it is a really good idea to create copies of your personalized “mint” preference files (make sure that you quit the program before copying them—that finalizes your customization) and use them in the future to replace any corrupt versions you may need to delete.

For Windows Users: Hold down Ctrl + Alt + Shift when launching Illustrator and respond affirmatively when asked if you want to reset.

[Kurt Gold]

I would not recommend to delete the Illustrator Preferences file(s) in that case. In general, a bit hasty advice to delete them happens way too often on this forum, though it may cause more trouble than pleasure for rather unexperienced users.

I would first think about Monika's reasonable questions and would then answer them. For example, on one of my machines with a non-English OS I am running a non-English version of Illustrator, but I'm using an English keyboard layout for some reason at the same time. That changes many things when it comes to keyboard shortcuts in Illustrator and other applications (no matter what is displayed in the keyboard shortcut settings).