strange behavior

[jmartinarch]

so through some strange and random clicks of the mouse and maybe keyboard

I end up with this next to cursor arrow. see attached. and all of the menu items are gray and non selectable.

I have to quit VW and restart to undo what I did .

Ever see this before?

[PVA - Admin]

That looks like the floating data bar, its normally controlled by the Data Bar and Edit Group Options button near the top right of the view bar, the one that looks like a gear.

It can be turned on, off and have various components of it disabled or enabled from there. But for the rest of the symptoms it sounds like there was a dialog open in the background or in another space that wasn't letting you interact with Vectorworks.

[jmartinarch]

Jim,

This is still happening. I played with the data bar & edit group but that really isn't the issue. It starts by seeing the hand from the pan command. If I esc then the data bar presents itself and menu items go grey. I can still draw if using only tool buttons. keyboard commands do not work, not even erase key.

I have to completely quit VW and restart to restore functions.

More info; it seems to happen when panning by way of the middle mouse button.

Edited October 9, 2015 by jmartinarch

[jmartinarch]

So I changed to a different mouse. And the same behavior. How do you get rid of the data bar and restore the menu items without quitting VW???

I get rid of the data bar by going to the 'gear' and unchecking, but the menu items are still gray and I can't work.

Edited October 16, 2015 by jmartinarch

[Benson Shaw]

Wild, one in a million chance idea:

Intermittently sticky keyboard key? Maybe the Tab key?

My old laptop had a sticky "tilda" key - Pressing grayed out all the snaps but release did not reactivate them. But by the time I noticed, I was several actions past the cause of problem. I think I discovered in some text software when the tilda character started filling line after line. Had to jiggle the key to make it stop.

-B

[michaelk]

Not one in a million.

On several occasions I've had a bluetooth keyboard in my bag that had gotten switched on. When that happens it's easy for a key to get pressed and stay pressed.

hope it's that simple.

mk

[jmartinarch]

I think there is a keystroke involved maybe at same time I click the mouse.

Just wish I could undo instead of having to completely quite VW and restart to resolve it. I have no bluetooth going.

[PVA - Admin]

You can also try relaunching Finder, that will sometimes reset key input as well. Cmd-Opt-Esc, then select Finder and click "Relaunch"

[jmartinarch]

Relaunching finder does nothing. there must be some combination of keys to unlock this behavior. Twice already today. Of course when in a hurry!

Not fun.

[PVA - Admin]

Do you use multiple Spaces or Expose in OSX? There are a few things in Vectorworks that can get stuck on or off if you switch spaces or use expose WHILE using a tool in VW, or if you're using spacebar for boomerang mode, this might have a similar cause.

[jmartinarch]

I don't use multiple spaces and I don't know what Expose is.

It could be that my thumb is heavy on the space bar while depressing middle mouse button for panning. I'll see if i can make it happen on purpose.