Shortcut key related bugs

If rebooting fixes the shortcut issue, then the next step is to narrow down the application that is causing the problem. We see anti-malware apps and anti-virus apps at the top of the list, with the winner being Webroot. Are you running Webroot?

And so there are a few more very annoying non-working problems.

What other issues are you having?

~Barb 

Can you be more specific about your situation such as what version of InDesign and what operating system are you using? Is this a problem that has just started occuring or has it been happening only since some change in your situation? Usually when another program is co-opting some of InDesign's shortcuts it does not include so many functions. However, I would suggest trying what Barb has recommended first to see if only launching InDesign restores the shortcuts. If it does then launch other apps one at a time until the culprit is identified. If there is no change then maybe you could try resetting your InDesign preferences. Hopefully when the program is restored to its defaults the problem will be gone.

To do so:

For Macintosh Users: The User Library folder in which InDesign’s preferences are stored is hidden by default on most Macintoshes. To access it make sure that InDesign is closed and click on the desktop to launch a Finder Window (Command-N). With this window in column view follow the path User>Home folder (it’s the folder with an icon that looks like a house—it may have the user’s name rather than “Home”) and click on the Home folder. With the Option Key pressed choose Library from the Finder Go Menu. “Library” will now appear within the Home folder. Within the Library folder find the folder called Preferences and within it find the folder called “Adobe InDesign” and the file called “com.adobe.InDesign.plist” and delete both that folder and that file. When InDesign is next launched it will create new preference files and the program will be restored to its defaults.

For Windows Users: You can try the quick way of resetting on a PC which is to hold down Ctrl + Alt + Shift when launching InDesign and respond affirmatively when asked if you want to reset. There have been some recent reports that the window asking if you want to reset is not popping up but that the prefs are being reset anyway. If this works great but if it doesn’t you may have to manually delete them.

To do so: On Windows 7 and above the preference files are hidden. To find them go to the Control Panel and open Folder Options and then click the View tab. Then select “Show hidden files and folders” or “Show hidden files, folders or drive options” in Advanced Settings. Then delete (or rename) the folder at the end of this path: C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\InDesign\<Version #>\<Language>. Make sure that InDesign is closed when you do this. When you relaunch the program it will create new preference files and the program will be at its default settings.

The advantage of manually deleting preference files is that after you’ve reset up the program (make sure that no document window is open) to your liking, you can 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.

We have learned that there are many instances of other applications interfering with InDesign's shortcut keys. Try rebooting your computer and only open up InDesign. Do the shortcuts work again?

~Barb