Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 11/18/2010

Question
QUESTION:
Hi - I've suddenly started having a problem with Illustrator CS4 where once I've
selected an object with the cursor, I can't deselect it (when I click another object, I
then have them both, and so on), so I have to keep using Deselect All. Also I can't
use colour from swatches to fill objects, and this latter problem began at the
exact same time. While browsing online forums, I noticed someone else had the
identical problem three days ago, but nobody seemed to have the answer.

At first I tried every Illustrator setting and preference I could find, and since then I
have tried throwing away preference files and re-booting my computer (MacBook
pro 17 inch running OS 10.6.5), and this helps for a short time, which is very
curious, but then the problem returns (four times I've done this now). Could it be
an operating system conflict of some kind?

This is now threatening my hard-worked-for one week of holiday for this year,
so any help you can offer would be appreciated!

Thanx

Rick


ANSWER: Hi Rick,

It is a Mac OS option called "Sticky Keys". Your shift key is stuck on. Go to your system preferences to Universal Access and turn that option off.

Thanks

Kevin



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Kevin, I really appreciate the time and attention you have given to my
problem, but I assure you it has nothing to do with sticky keys! (I have
checked the Universal Access setting anyway, just for the record.) The de-
selecting problem only occurs in Illustrator, and not in any other application,
but interestingly it occurs in both Illustrator CS4 and in my old version of CS2
as well, as I discovered more recently. Then there is the additional problem of
not being able to assign colour to objects from swatches or colour palette - I
have to create them each time. Both these problems began simultaneously
and both get sorted when I re-boot, but then return after a matter of
minutes. Any further suggestions would be most welcome, thanks.


Answer
Hi Rick,

First, do you have two versions on the same HD? I know from teaching this can cause some issues between shared resources, etc.

This is very odd and not something I have heard of before, especially across versions. I know you said you threw out the preferences file, but have you tried just resetting them upon restart to see if that solves it? If you hold Shift+Option+Command(apple) on startup it will reset the prefs.

If that doesn't permanently solve it, I would uninstall all versions on your computer and only reinstall CS4 clean. Be sure to use the uninstall scripts provided and then after you have uninstalled search for any file named "Adobe". No surprise, uninstalls aren't always clean.

Thanks

Kevin