Illustrator CS (and v 10) seem to switch keyboard layouts spontaneously

[Mike_Brazil@adobeforums.com]

I'd been having a problem in Illustrator 10 where it would seem to switch to a different (unknown) keyboard layout intermittently. It would also switch back to using the correct QWERTY layout for no apparent reason. I decided to upgrade to Illustrator CS to see if that would resolve the problem. I completely uninstalled Illustrator 10 and then installed Illustrator CS. Unfortunately upgrading didn't solve the problem.

I use a standard 104-key keyboard, and Windows XP's Device Manager tells me that the standard keyboard driver is installed. Illustrator is the only application I've seen this happen in (it hasn't happened in FrameMaker, PhotoShop, or Acrobat). I have not been able to pin down any particular action that precipitates the switch, but I've had it appear to switch back to the QWERTY layout when I changed all of the text in a document to a different font, and when I created a new set of keyboard shortcuts and switched to that set and back. Unfortunately, it wasn't repeatable (the next time I tried both of those, it did not switch back).

I would suspect the keyboard and the keyboard driver of being the cause, but it happens only in Illustrator. All Illustrator tech support could tell me was to delete my preferences file and create a new one (I did), try changing fonts (I did), and try using another keyboard (I did) -- these were just guesses (the rep admitted that), and he had no more suggestions.

The only sure-fire way I've found to make it switch back to the QWERTY layout is to quite Illustrator and restart it. This takes forever, and of course, my work output has slowed to a trickle as a result of quitting and restarting several times an hour. Not only does it make it impossible for me to enter text, it screws up the keyboard shortcuts for changing from one tool to another. I sure hope somebody has a fix for this, because I'm pulling my hair out, and I can't really afford to do that (too much is gone already). ;-)

Mike

[Mikus_Valdbergs@adobeforums.com]

hi,
there might be several reasons why keyboard layouts get switched. in corel there is an option to automaticaly switch layouts for particular language the selected text has been written in. i'm not sure illy does this... it was quite annoying feature and it's just another reason why i'm happy to be working with illustrator now :)

next thing is pressing alt+shift (xp's shortcut). you can go to your control panel and disable this shortcut. you can also choose to show language bar on the task bar. that way you will be able to change layouts manually.

mik

[Mike_Brazil@adobeforums.com]

Thanks, Mik!!! You hit the nail on the head. It's the alt+shift combination that's doing it. Where do you go in XP to disable this?

Mike

[Mike_Brazil@adobeforums.com]

Never mind. I found where to turn off the alt+shift keyboard command.
Thanks again, Mik!!!