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Answered

Option Key Shortcuts Not Working in InDesign

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
April 13, 2018
9 replies
41207 views

My Option shortcuts are no longer working in InDesign. I'm using a late 2013 iMac, running OS 10.6.11. My option key shortcuts just stopped working all of a sudden, for things like "next spread" or "previous spread", I can't make a bullet point or even increase/decrease my leading or tracking. I've deleted my preferences, uninstalled and reinstalled Indesign, tried a different keyboard and have even reverted to a previous version. I can use option+drag to duplicate something, but thats about it. I tried Illustrator and option is working there.

I added a new shortcut to toggle through spreads, but can't figure out how to add them for any character formatting (or if that can even be done?). Any advice is appreciated! I'm working on a rather large brochure and this has been an annoying, time consuming nuisance!

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Correct answer michelec94953175

FINAL ANSWER: So, after doing some work, the option key stopped working again. I went back over what they did in the Adobe remote session. Turns out the culprit is the "Unicode Hex Input" in Keyboard Preference - System Preferences. To switch it back, I had to go to the top right of the screen, next to date and time, and change it back to the American Flag. I am not sure how that got there or what is triggering the change, so I removed it from keyboard preferences!

A quick Google search confirms that the Unicode Hex Input alters the way the option key works. Finally, problem solved!!

traceym57684190

Participant

This doesn't work. I wish Adobe would fix all of their problems.

hillaryo83502006

Participant

I found that once I updated my computer's software it fixed the problem

G

GFKS

Known Participant

Had the same problem, started working immediately after i turned off my corporate vpn. Since each of us have different program causing this, Adobe should finally try to fix this inside InDesign. Illustrator or Photoshop never have this problem, so its obviously something inside the programs coding that lets other programs to block your keys.

A

ashleyok

Participant

I had this problem recently, but my Inport Source was U.S. so that wasn't the issue.

In the Keyboard settings > Shortcuts tab > Accessibility menu, I toggled "Zoom" to be OFF and that solved my problem.

K

klemenl34597931

Participant

STUPID AND SIMPLE SOLUTION without restarting MAC or messing around preferences.

Just QUIT YOUR WEB BROWSER and CMD,SHIFT, OPTION,... keys will start working in Indesign 2019.

(no other solution helps in my case)

By working with MAC computers for almost 30 years it looks like Apple is loosing compass since Jobs passed.

Think about vintage Apple video spot... "I'am MAC... and I'am a PC".

And where is Apple in 2019?

PS: "Luckuly", WIN also became worst than ever.

michelec94953175Author

Inspiring

Update: I've uninstalled and reinstalled Wacom Drivers, and tried reverting to a previous version of the driver. I've also uninstalled Sohphos, upgraded OS to High Sierra and tried booting up in Safe Mode. Nothing has worked. I still can not use Option for any text editing or registration or copyright symbols, etc. Very frustrating!!!

Did Adobe change shortcuts and I was unaware?

R

randylee

Participant

Hello

turns out, it is NOT an Adobe problem. I did turn off webroot, which is a security program and suddenly, all the option key magic was back. A very strange concept admittedly, but you'll need to follow instructions on turning EVERYTHING off and starty Indesign first.

BobLevine

Community Expert

randylee wrote
Hello
turns out, it is NOT an Adobe problem.

Let that be a lesson. NEVER eliminate anything out of hand when troubleshooting software issues.

R

randylee

Participant

wrong. the idea that a key comman is effected by your browser is just silly. This is an Adobe product and IT IS AN ADOBE PROBLEM. I am asking David Blatner who usually answers emails and does have an annswer.

Barb Binder

Community Expert

We've found that this is often due to another application interfering with InDesign—common culprits are browsers, browser extensions, anti-virus and anti-malware apps. Close InDesign, reboot the computer, and only open InDesign. Does the option key work again? If not, consider the apps that auto-load.

~Barb

~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training

michelec94953175Author

Inspiring

Thanks for the quick replies! I've tried all of that - rebooting and only opening InDesign, eliminated any programs that open on Log-in (System Prefs - User - Log-in Items) and even disabled Sophos (virus scan), rebooting after each thing. None of this has worked.

BobLevine

Community Expert

The evidence in the of KBSC conflicts is long and yes, some of it relates to browsers. That you don't want to accept it says more about you than it does about the person offering the troubleshooting advice.

BobLevine

Community Expert

What version of InDesign and what operating system. There's no 10.6.11 and I'm not going to make any assumptions.

michelec94953175Author

Inspiring

Oops! Sorry about that! OS 10.11.6 and InDesign CC2018 (it says version 13.0.0.125 - This is the version I reverted too thinking the issue came with a recent update.)

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