How To Turn Off Layer Style Window

[kathydannelvitcak]

At least I KNOW ya'll will understand my agony! I'm using a Slim Blade Pro on a Mac Display, Sequoia 15.3.2. 99% of my work is in Photoshop/InDesign, with lots of image editing. My latest conundrum is this...Virtually every time I click on a layer in a multi-layered file in Photoshop it opens the Layer Style options window. If I try to move 4 layers, yes, it opens Layer Style window 4 more times.

I've contacted Kensington, Adobe and yeah, here I am.

Is there a way to deactivate the Window Style option/window? I can't get anything done, as each task takes 4x longer.

Also, my trackball has gotten picky about grabbing. I can't move open images/pages/ anything we all normally drag a bazillion times a day. Maybe one out of three grabs works. Trackball is a year and a bit old. Mac Studio M2 Ultra is a year and a half old. This stuff should just work.

I've reinstalled software 3x and gone back and forth between KensingtonWorks and SteerMouse. Tried to use the beta of Kensington Konnect, but it would not load. Also, I'm in far northern Minnesota, near Manitoba, so the nearest Apple Store if a 5-½ hour plus drive. I'm on my own.

Ideas? Condolences?

Kathy

[jane-e]

@kathydannelvitcak 

If you double-click a layer in the Layers panel, the Style option window will open up. That's expected behavior. Clicking once should not do that.

I am aware that in Windows you can change a setting so a single-click functions as a double-click. I don't know if that is possible on macOS. Can you go to Settings on your Mac and see if you see anything that would cause this? Maybe change the double-click speed?

For testing purposes, you might also try a different mouse to see if the issue is with this mouse or with Photoshop.

Jane

[Nancy OShea · Accepted solution]

Do you have a spare mouse you can use?  They do wear out with repeated use. 

A sticky or non-responsive mouse usually signals that the sensor pads are dirty.  It might just need a thorough cleaning.

[Conrad_C]

If Layer Style is opening, then the OS registered a double-click, and it sounds like you only intended to click. If you combine that with the difficulty you’re having in selecting/dragging, those problems are all tied to whatever button on the trackball is designated as the “primary click” or “left-click” button. If that button is sending intermittent signals (too many clicks, or not holding a click so you can drag), one possible cause is that the contact switch for that button is dirty and needs to be cleaned. If it isn’t that, there might be another mechanical problem making the click switch inconsistent.

I haven’t used a Slim Blade Pro but is it the kind where you can click by pressing down the trackball, and is that how you click to select? If so, there is a chance that dirt on the trackball has gummed up a switch. I have read the Slim Blade Pro product sheet and it looks like it uses optical sensors, which can get blocked. I recently took apart and repaired a 20-year-old accessory that malfunctioned because its internal optical sensor got blocked by some dust that I had to clear off. 

The Kensington web page I looked at had a link to a guide to cleaning a trackball:

https://www.kensington.com/news/ergonomic-workspace-blog/best-way-to-clean-a-trackball/

But that might not apply if the problem is with one of the switches around the trackball, which might need different maintenance.

To help confirm what's wrong, use standard “process of elimination” troubleshooting:

If the “accidental double-click” or “unable to hold a drag” problems happen in all software, even out on the Mac desktop, then the problem is not with any specific program such as Adobe software. It would either be in the device driver (which you’re already reinstalled) or in the device (such as a dirty switch or sensor).

If the problems stop if you temporarily switch to another input device such as a mouse, trackpad, or graphics tablet, that will confirm that the problem is with the trackball specifically.

It’s unlikely that the problem is with Photoshop or macOS.

This reminds me of when the original Mac and PC mice rolled on a ball. If that ball got dirty, mouse operation got erratic.

[kathydannelvitcak]

Here at work whenever I start whining/complaining/moaning about anything to do with my Mac my teams call the Kathy Factor explanation. I then redo ALL the basic steps that I have already done and stuff often starts working. So, if in doubt clean all the lunches/snack/diner/dogtreat remains from my trackball and try again. I did and it actually IS muc better. I swear I cleaned repeatedly the day I posted this rant to no avail. I gave it another shot today and yep, much better! Oh, dog treats could get in my keyboard as I break treats into small dog sizes for two of my three office dogs. 

THANK YOU! I am cleaning one more time before I start my day in your honor. Thank you for taking the time to answer. Sometimes I just need a shake to bring me out of the hyperfocused panic of not getting my stuff done in the time I have alloted. Yes, my own worse enemy, but usually a pretty good supporter. Here's a gratutious picture of two of the office brats!

KathyIs the pillow not soft enough?