Manually entering values in fields not recognized in Illustrator

[PHLSKT]

Hello there,

I've been having an issue with Adobe Illustrator where, shortly after starting the software, I'm unable to manually enter specific values in any of the fields used to adjust design elements, such as x-value, y-value, width, height, angle, and more. Although I'm typing in the correct value to replace the existing one, Illustrator doesn't seem to recognize the command, and the value remains the same as before. This occurs consistently across all fields.

The only way I can change the value is by using the dial or the up/down arrows next to the field, which is less efficient and less precise than simply typing in the desired value. This problem is particularly frustrating when I need to make precise adjustments to my design.

Oddly enough, when I quit the app and reopen it, the problem goes away temporarily, but it returns shortly after that. It seems like something may be causing the software to malfunction after it's been running for a certain amount of time.

I've tried entering the value multiple times, but the issue persists. I've also checked to make sure that there aren't any other settings or tools that could be interfering with the input of values, but everything appears to be normal. I'm not sure what's causing this issue, or how to fix it.

I'm running Illustrator 27.4 on MacOS Ventura.

Please help. Thanks.

[Jacob Bugge]

PHLSKT,

Quite likely far too far out, is it (also) happening if you have no other applications running, as in restarting the computer and then only starting AI, with smart (keyboard) features/enhancements disabled, if any?

[PHLSKT]

Hi Jacob,

I tried this thing where I restarted my computer and just used Illustrator for a bit before opening other apps. It was all smooth sailing in the morning, but then the problem popped up again when I had a bunch of stuff open in the afternoon. I'm wondering if it's got something to do with all the apps fighting over my computer's resources – I've got 16 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD, just so you know.

And about those smart keyboard features you mentioned, I'm not really sure what you mean. I haven't messed with Illustrator's default settings (it's version 27.4), so I've just been using it as is. (Speaking of the keyboard, i am using Apple's bluetooth Magic Keyboard.)

Cheers!

[Jacob Bugge]

PHLSKT,

I doubt whether this issue can be caused by computer resources.

Some have experienced strange interferences between specific applications (Adobe and non Adobe), and some have found that small applications to customize keyboard use (which can be set to start up with the computer) can do strange things. All of this highly specific to individual combinations, and some have only shown up for certain kinds of computer setups.

Obviously, keyboard errors can cause keystroke failures, but those are more likely to hit every application. But there are also some strangenesses related to specific keyboards, such as the one you mention, as far as I remember.

And on top of all this, intermittent errors are notoriously difficult to catch and correct.

In any case, I would suggest your trying with another keyboard, the proof of the pudding being the eating.

[PHLSKT]

I've been keeping track of which apps I have open and what tasks I'm doing in Illustrator, but it's been hard to identify the root of the problem. Just when I thought I had figured out the trigger, I couldn't replicate the issue again. So, I will try using a different keyboard to see if that helps. Thanks so much for your suggestion!

[Jacob Bugge]

You are welcome, PHLSKT.

Unless it is a keyboard change, I hope @Anshul_Saini or another of our Adobe friends can have a look at the matter.

[Met1]

You're not hitting Num Lock (Number Lock) by accident are you? I do this a thousand times a day. Ok, not a thousand, but a lot. I've registry disabled Caps Lock, I'm sure there's a hack to disable Num Lock too...

[PHLSKT]

Hey there, Met1! Thanks for the suggestion, but I don't use a dedicated number pad, so Num Lock is not the issue in this case. Thanks anyway for trying to help me troubleshoot!

[Anshul_Saini]

Hello @PHLSKT,

I understand the issue you're facing with being unable to manually enter values in fields. It's great to see that you've already received some suggestions from Jacob to help troubleshoot the problem.

Since you're using Apple's Bluetooth Magic Keyboard, please remove/ forget the device and try connecting it again. Also, check if you're experiencing any similar issues in other applications or when using another keyboard. Also, ensure all the accessibility settings for the keyboard are disabled.

Below are the screenshot of my settings:

Additionally, you may want to try resetting Illustrator's preferences to see if that resolves the issue.

Keep in mind that resetting preferences will set Illustrator back to its default settings, so you may need to adjust any custom preferences you had set up previously.

If the issue persists even after trying these suggestions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us again. We're here to help you resolve this issue.

Best,
Anshul Saini

[PHLSKT]

Thanks for the information and suggestions, @Anshul_Saini.

My keyboard setting is the same as yours, and Illustrator is the only app unresponsive to manual commands. Although I haven't reset the Illustrator preferences, the app has been functioning properly (knock on wood). I'll reach out again if the problem happens again.

P.S. I noticed that I'm running Illustrator 27.4.1, which is recently (auto) updated from 27.4. Perhaps, this version is more stable?

[PHLSKT]

Hello @Anshul_Saini 

Unfortunately, it seems I spoke too soon (or perhaps I jinxed it?). The issue has resurfaced, and I'm not sure what caused it this time. However, I did update my MacOS from 13.3 to 13.3.1 today. I've attempted to resolve the issue by forgetting and reconnecting the Bluetooth keyboard, using a wired USB keyboard, and resetting the Illustrator Preferences. Despite restarting Illustrator several times, the problem persisted shortly after the software was restarted. Could the software update be the cause? Thanks.

[Anshul_Saini]

Thank you for the update, @PHLSKT. The behavior you're experiencing is quite unusual. To further investigate this issue, please try booting into the system safe mode (https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mac-help/mh21245/mac) and launch Illustrator to see if the issue persists. This will help us determine if the issue is related to third-party applications or system settings. Additionally, could you please provide us with a detailed description of the steps you're taking when manually entering values in fields? If possible, screen record with the keyboard viewer to see what keys are getting pressed. This information will help us reproduce the issue and find a solution. We appreciate your cooperation in resolving this issue and look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Anshul Saini

[Tim32215226blpi]

Hello @Anshul_Saini ,

I signed in here specifically to provide another data point of this issue. I'm running MacOS Sonoma 14.0 with an M2 Max Macbook Pro and have experienced this same inability to directly enter in numerical values into any field using my laptop keyboard.

[Anshul_Saini]

Hello @Tim32215226blpi,

Thank you for reaching out and sharing your experience with this issue. To further investigate and resolve the problem you're facing, it would be helpful to gather a bit more information:

• Could you please confirm the exact version of Adobe Illustrator you are using? If you're not using the latest version, consider updating to see if the issue persists.

• Additionally, I would recommend trying the new Adobe Illustrator pre-release (v27.9) or beta versions (v28.0.42) to see if this behavior is also present there. Sometimes, issues like these are addressed in newer software releases.

• Please ensure that you are running macOS Sonoma 14.0 Developer Beta 7 or 14.0 Public Beta 5, as you mentioned. Compatibility can sometimes be influenced by macOS updates.

By providing this information and trying these steps, we can narrow down the cause of the issue and work towards a solution. Your feedback will be valuable in helping us address and resolve this problem.

Thank you for your cooperation, and we'll do our best to assist you further.

Best,

Anshul Saini

[PHLSKT · Accepted solution]

Hey there.

To all who replied to my original post and those who might encounter similar problems, I just wanted to give a quick update. My original problem disappeared after I reinstalled 27.4, and I have not had another incident of unresponsiveness when manually entering values in any field. I really appreciate all who responded to help. You guys are amazing.

Cheers

[defaultrqms3ymfx19f]

Hi, any updates in this subject? I have version 28.5 and it is still happening. I'm driving crazy. Thanks

[Anshul_Saini]

Hi @defaultrqms3ymfx19f,

I'm sorry to hear that you're still experiencing this issue with manually entering values in fields not being recognized in Illustrator. We are sorry for the delayed response. Let's try to get to the bottom of this.

Could you please share your system details, such as your operating system and any other relevant specifications? Additionally, have you tried resetting your preferences in Illustrator? This can often resolve unusual behavior.

It would also be helpful if you could test Illustrator in safe mode (win/ mac) to see if you can enter values correctly there. This can help determine if the issue is caused by a third-party conflict.

Looking forward to your response.

Best regards,

Anshul Saini