Must hit first key twice inInDesign

[jayroebuck]

I have been using InDesign since it's beginning and, for the first time, I am stumped on this issue. When typing text in InDesign I have to hit the first letter twice before it shows. For example, if I was typing "How are you"? It would look like this "ow are you"? Unless I hit the "H" twice.

This is a recent issue - last couple of months or so. I ran all updates through the cloud. This does not happen with a new file with no P or C styles. The problem is that this is affecting all of my document templates which contain extensive styles. When I create a new file then import all styles, it starts happening again.

I thought I would ask around before having to create all new templates from scratch.

Thanks

[Laubender]

Hi,

this is a known bug with the Windows version of InDesign 13.1.0.76.
See here for a workaround:

First character is skipped while typing on Windows

Regards,
Uwe

[Laubender]

Hm…
I see now that not only a workaround is posted there ( solution 2 ) but also a quick fix installer since April 2:

Solution 1: Download and install the plug-in

Regards,
Uwe

[jayroebuck]

Thank you,

I will try out the second solution since, for some reason, the plugin fix does not give you the option to change the installation location. My Adobe products are installed on a separate drive than my OS and the plugin does not give you a way to back out of the default C: drive.

Hopefully, the second option, even though I have no idea what it does, works.

Turn off - Show Adornment On Text Selection/Text Frame For More Type Controls under Edit > Preferences > Advanced Type.

Thanks again.

[Barb Binder]

Hi Jay:

Hopefully, the second option, even though I have no idea what it does, works.

It's an OpenType time-saving feature. When it's on, you will see a blue O on the bottom right of a text frame.

For this frame there are two options—it's context-sensitive, so it knows what is in the frame. Notice the fractions are typed in like this: 1/2.

Checking Fractions converts all of automatically to properly-formatted fractions with a numerator, denominator and the fraction slash.

It's a cool feature, and one you might want to use once this issue is resolved. Right now, I'd say it's more important to get the first character to register when typing.

~Barb

[jayroebuck]

Thanks for the info! I'm curious how disabling this enables the first character to show up though.

[Barb Binder]

Hi Jay:

This feature, while cool, has been problematic since it was introduced. I'm no programmer so I can't tell you why, but I can tell you that we had to disable it right after it was added because of a different issue. After a patch, it worked for what seems like close to a year, and now it's an issue on Windows 10, but not on other operating systems.

I have no doubt it will get straightened out, but for now, this is how to get your work done without wanting to pull your hair out. 

~Barb

[dannygarber]

Here's a novel idea:

DON'T release the software with such a glaring bug! OR patch it! Paying a premium to be part of CC and having to lose functionality on one hand to regain basic typing functionality is ridiculous. Plug-in? Really? I'm so glad that I only have to use CC at work.

[Barb Binder]

Hi Danny:

I hear you, and as a heads up—the community forum is a user-to-user forum, and those of us who answer questions are volunteers who take time of their day to help other users. If you have ideas that you would like to share with Adobe, be sure to use their feedback/bug report page. As a fellow user, I have no more power over what is released—or when it is released—than you do, and there is no expectation that comments made on the community forums will be seen by those who can make changes.

This venue is about users helping users.

~Barb

[dannygarber]

Barb,

I agree with what you're saying and I meant no disrespect to you. It just boggles my mind that a company with that much programming muscle behind it can release these updates/upgrades that have such a glaring bug. What's become so disheartening is that something like this would have been resolved much quicker in the past. OR, as unfair as it may seem, release an upgrade for one platform and hold-off on the other (a day, a week. . .) until the kinks are worked out. With all the variables I'd rather wait than suddenly have to worry about what should be second nature (fluid typing). Again, apologies if

it seemed like I offended you personally, which was not my intention.

[Barb Binder]

No, no. No offense taken, Danny. I just wanted to make sure you knew you weren't talking directly to Adobe or to someone who had the power to make a change. Many folks new to the forums think they are conversing with Adobe directly.

Now, I'm no programmer—and as previously mentioned—I don't work for Adobe, but I'm been using and training on layout applications since 1986 so I can say with confidence that all applications have bugs. This particular bug was an issue that was quickly taken care of by Adobe, and the resurfaced after a Windows 10 (Microsoft) upgrade. I have no doubt Adobe will be taken care of soon, but situations like this make me glad I'm just a trainer and not a software engineer.

~Barb

[Ortolan · Accepted solution]

This one worked perfectly for me:

[Laubender]

Hi Ortolan ,

that's the second best solution.

The best one would be to install the bug fix I mentioned in reply 2.

You'll find it here:

First character is skipped while typing on Windows

Regards,
Uwe

[AdrianPhillip23000385oeix]

2024 and this is still happening! Unchecking that box in the preferences doesn't make any difference with me. Come on Adobe, get your sh!t together.

Mac OS 12.6.7

ID 19.2

[HARSHIKA_VERMA]

Hi @AdrianPhillip23000385oeix, 

Sorry for the frustration. Would you mind opening InDesign in safe mode and let us know if the problem persists in safe mode too?

We will try our best to investigate further.

Thanks,

Harshika

[AdrianPhillip23000385oeix · Accepted solution]

Thanks for your reply, I don't actually know what safe mode is in InDesign.

Anyway, it does seem that unchecking both checkboxes for Type Contextual Controls, Show for Character Alternates, Fractions, Ordinals and Ligatures and Show Adornment on Text Selection/Text Frame for more Type controls seems to be solving the problem.

[mattp11618056]

Yep, here to confirm the problem still exists. First noticed it a couple versions ago, then it apparently went away a few updates later, now it's back with one of the recent updates, no idea which. I was hoping it would be fixed with an update again (assuming thats what happened in the previous instance) however since that hasn't happened for a few weeks now here I am reading this solution of unchecking the two options in advanced type, which did work. But the fact that this issue exists and persists six years later... what's up with that?