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Answered

InDesign CC Shift Key not working

Forum|Forum|11 years ago
April 14, 2014
53 replies
144672 views

Normally I'd just hold the shift key down to resize an image or object in InDesign CC to constrain its proportions. Lately when I try to resize an image, the shift key doesn't do anything anymore. It no longer holds the proportions of the image box. Is there a way to fix this problem or is there a new tool that replaces the hot key shortcut? Transform > Scale is taking way too much time to resize an image to the proper size I need it to be.

Any and all help is very appreciated.

-Jon

Correct answer juarthy

Hello Carol, I posted a fix that worked for me perfectly, it was webroot virus scanning software. I turned it off, and the problem disappeared. I only run it at night, when I’m not working. An apple tech told me virus scan software can interfere with key commands.

Not sure if this is your issue, but hope it helps. My macbook pro was fine, the software wasn’t installed on it, it was the mac pro with the virus scanning software that had the issue.

Good luck

Show previous replies

carolb77886673

Participant

Same here. I have a new MacBook, and the shift key doesn't work when resizing proportionally. I've been going to Object>Fitting>FillFrame Proportionally when I have an object in a frame to resize.

J

juarthyCorrect answer

Participant

Hello Carol, I posted a fix that worked for me perfectly, it was webroot virus scanning software. I turned it off, and the problem disappeared. I only run it at night, when I’m not working. An apple tech told me virus scan software can interfere with key commands.

Not sure if this is your issue, but hope it helps. My macbook pro was fine, the software wasn’t installed on it, it was the mac pro with the virus scanning software that had the issue.

Good luck

carolb77886673

Participant

Yep! That was my issue. Many thanks!

L

lennartk502178

Participant

Have the exact same problem. Just installed indesign 2015 on a brand new imac (never used on anything and with no webroot or other applications installed). Indesign downloaded from creative cloud, and the shift/command key doesn´t work at all. Turning on or off smart grid didn´t make any difference. Bit at loss here..

Steve Werner

Community Expert

It is almost certain that there is some conflicting utility, extension, or browser plug-in that is "grabbing" the use of the Shift key.

In recent time, browser plug-ins or extensions are probably the most likely.

Try rebooting, and don't launch (with startup programs or manually) any other application. Try to see if the problem re-occurs.

If it still does, create a new user and try InDesign in the new user to eliminate corruption or startup software in your normal user.

P

Pat481

Known Participant

Yes, but IMO this is still an adobe bug. It doesn't occur in any other non adobe apps, is a common occurrence, can be triggered by secure input which is a pretty common situation . I've read that adobe uses an outdated method of checking modifier keys. I feel like just because an external app is involved in the equation doesn't mean that it isn't a bug with CC.

T

Therese C

Participating Frequently

after the latest update was installed, i cannot size things proportionately either. as mentioned, it's as if the shift key is not working. i did not do anything differently, or change any settings. it just started happening after the update. very frustrating!!!

R

rkeck1

Participant

For those having this problem with Webroot, there is a solution, thanks to their support dept:

Moderator

Posts: 93

Registered: ‎09-16-2013

Re: InDesign on Mac

[ New ]

7m ago

Hello @commnews,

Welcome to the Webroot Community.

I see that you have both a consumer and a business license so I was curious as to which you are seeing this issue on?

Due to the unique way in which keyboard shortcuts work on the Mac OS, the secure keyboard entry feature may prohibit shortcut functions in a variety of applications. This includes, but is not limited to, Adobe Creative Suite Products, Macro applications, or some built in features that are triggered by key combinations—such as Dictation and Speech.

This can be resolved by clicking the Webroot icon located on the top right of the menu bar, then clicking “Pause Secure Keyboard Entry.”

If this does not work for you, I would advise creating a support ticket so that we can investigate and whitelist any files that may be monitored on your system.

You can create a support ticket here.

Please let me know if pausing the secure keyboard entry works, or if you have any other updates from support.

Best Regards,

James G.

Webroot Community Support Team

H

heatherp96076412

Participant

I am so happy I found this post I have been searching all day for a solution! Found another thread that mentioned webroot, but no one said how to fix it!!!

THANKS!

R

rkeck1

Participant

I have also been having the same problem, and it does appear to be related to Webroot (or Webfoot, as autocorrect gives us). Thanks!

C

Casper van den Bosch

Inspiring

Aaaargh!! Ok, it happened to me also! Only in Indesign. Man, than you know how often you use dragging with shift pressed. I cannot work wit Indesign now.

Sorry Adobe, do I have to reinstall??? CC CLoud, latest version - worked till today.

P

Per Rene Ottesen

Participant

Have the same problem, and quitting Microsoft applikations, turning smart guides on/off doesn't makes any difference.

Sometimes it's enough "just" to restart InDesign but more often I need to restart the computer (has also tried just to delete InDesign's pref file, but that doesn't solve it).

Really frustrating

T

thmontoy

Participant

Underneath the "Fit Content..." tools on the toolbar, there is an Auto-Fit box. I checked that and my proportional scaling is working again.

K

kedwards807

Participant

This fixed it for me: Uninstall InDesign using the uninstaller (located in the InDesign folder) make sure to check the box to remove Prefs also. Then using Adobe Application Manager reinstall InDesign CC 2014. Of course you will have to set your prefs again.

O

osculator

Participant

I have problems using InDesign CC 2014 on my iMac with shift constrain as well as shift option copy. At the mention of Webroot by users above, I looked at the settings, at the top right of the Mac screen when I click on the round green "w" Webroot icon (up near the time and wifi indicators) and found "Pause Secure Keyboard Entry". Once I check this option, both features work. In fact, the flaw itself toggles off and on with this button on my system. Hope this helps.

G

gbr1992

Participant

this totally worked!!!! I've gone months without using shift and option cmnd! Thanks!!!

obilal

Participant

After digging around for over 1/2 an hour I might be a step closer to figuring this out. I force quit all of my microsoft products... word, excel and ppt and voila my shift key starts working. So if you encounter this, try force quitting programs one at a time until you find the offender. I think mines MS Word, as everything was working fine until a little after opening a word doc. interesting.

spanishpeach

Participant

Thank you!!! This worked for me. I tried many other suggestions here but what worked for me is closing PowerPoint and then restarting my MacBook Pro, since closing PowerPoint alone, or even restarting InDesign was not quite enough. Yay for having my shift key back!

obilal

Participant

it's a new year and Adobe still hasn't addressed this. It's very frustrating! Oh well, I guess I'll lose 15 minutes of productivity restarting my mac because Indesign magically loses it's ability to constrain using the shift key.

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Re: InDesign on Mac

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