Keyboard shortcuts? have become a Nuisance!!!
For years TB has been ok, but in the last couple months while typing a new message or replying- 1. the cursor jumps some here, and my typing ends up there. Where is that typing? 2. a dialog box pops up and that inhibits typing until it's closed. 3. the cursor ends up in an address field and results in an incorrect address being entered from saved/address book addresses.
So, is this a problem? Of course, it's a total nuisance. It's a UI defect. It degrades productivity. And more important if the message is a "reply" then it already has the reply address--the address doesn't need to be checked before sending. So, let's say that you're replying to a friend, and you mention that your boss is an "incompetent jackass jerk that ought to fired". And it also gets sent to your boss because of some Thunderbird keyboard quirk. Did this happen to me? Yes, well not exactly, but it did happen with the possibility of being much more than an embarrassment.
Unreliable keyboard operation is unacceptable. Is it possible to disable keyboard quirks? How about keyboard shortcuts? I would appreciate knowing, because with reluctance in about 24 hours I'm driving Thunderbird in the ditch.
Other than that Thunderbird is great!
All Replies (2)
If the keyboard shortcuts were the problem then it would be effecting everyone as it part of the program code. So clearly this is nothing to do with the code itself.
re :3. the cursor ends up in an address field It is possible to move from content area to an address field, but you do need to press a specific combination of keys.
- 'Ctrl+Shift+T' or 'Ctrl+Shift+C' or 'Ctrl+Shift+B'
Example: If you were typing email content and wanted to use an upper case 't' then you would press 'Shift'+'T' It seems that on some occasions when you are 'pressing the 'Shift' key, you are symultaneously leaning on the 'Ctrl' key positioned below the 'Shift' key.
I have helped others in the past who mentioned weird things going on with cursor. If the keyboard was not failing or dirty and being sticky then it was always a user input which the user was inadvertantly performing. The user had unwittingly developed a habit of allowing the heel of their hand to rest onto another key. This would explain why you are experiencing weirdness which I can appreciate is frustrating.
When you press keys, a message instruction stating what keys have been pressed is sent from keyboard to computer. So if keyboard is not failing then it sent message saying 'Ctrl+Shift+Key' was pressed. Computer receives instruction and then checks which program has focus and performs the event action specified for the instruction the computer has received from the keyboard.
Thunderbird program has no control over the keyboard or what keys are pressed. It only does as instructed.
re :2. a dialog box pops up and that inhibits typing until it's closed.
What pop up dialog box are you talking about?
Post an image as it will help identify which pop up box it is.
Then I can find out what is causing it to appear.
Modified by Toad-Hall
I had a thought - If the pop up window was the 'Spell Check' then it seems you pressed 'Ctrl+Shift+P'.
A pattern is starting to emerge. You are inadvertantly and unknowingly on occasions leaning on the 'Ctrl' key.
You need to be aware that pressing on the 'Ctrl' key whilst pressing 'Enter/return' key will auto send an email. So, it is important you try to see why your hand posture is not helping your situation. It could be only occuring when you have been typing for a while, so are a bit tired. Or it might be because you are typing with laptop on your lap instead of a table or vis versa.
Hopefully, this explains what is going on and will help you to be aware of the habit you have developed. But, it would not matter what program you use. If you press specific combinations of keys then the program will act accordingly. This is not a Thunderbird quirk.
Modified by Toad-Hall