r-click in Powerpoint 2003

[Harlett O'Dowd]

here's an odd one:

I have a user who is well trained in how to click-n-drag to highlight
with the left mouse button, then right-click to copy.


But this feature stopped working in Powerpoint (only 4-5 options as
oppsed to 14 or so normally.)


But only in PP.


Word, excel, work fine. Is there a setting that could have been
turned
off in *only* PP that would cause this?


Thanks!

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

here's an odd one:

I have a user who is well trained in how to click-n-drag to highlight
with the left mouse button, then right-click to copy.

But this feature stopped working in Powerpoint (only 4-5 options as
oppsed to 14 or so normally.)

But only in PP.

Word, excel, work fine. Is there a setting that could have been
turned
off in *only* PP that would cause this?

What options *are* showing ... that might provide a clue to the
problem.

 

[Harlett O'Dowd]

What options *are* showing ... that might provide a clue to the
problem.

sorry, the problem is somewhat different than I described.
Specifically, cut and copy are greyed out. All other options seem
available.

Again, this only applies to PP docs, Word, Excel, etc. are all fine.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

sorry, the problem is somewhat different than I described.
Specifically, cut and copy are greyed out. All other options seem
available.

Again, this only applies to PP docs, Word, Excel, etc. are all fine.

And again, what options ARE showing?

And what exactly is the user click/dragging to highlight? Text in a single
object or multiple objects?

 

[Harlett O'Dowd]

And again, what options ARE showing?

And what exactly is the user click/dragging to highlight?  Text in a single
object or multiple objects?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

user is hilighting text in a single text box.

Choices are:

cut (geyed out)
copy (greyed out)
paste
save as picture
exit edit text
font
bullets & numbering
insert tab
set autoshape defaults
custom annimation
action settings
format place holder
hyperlink
look up
synonyms

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

user is hilighting text in a single text box.

Choices are:

cut (geyed out)
copy (greyed out)
paste
save as picture
exit edit text
font
bullets & numbering
insert tab
set autoshape defaults
custom annimation
action settings
format place holder
hyperlink
look up
synonyms

OK, I can repro this now. Thanks.

This is what you get when you've clicked inside a text box but haven't
selected any text (hence here's nothing selected to copy or cut, so both of
those choices are greyed out).

Given your earlier comment about how the user knows how to click and drag to
select text, I'm guessing you know all about this already, but apparently
PowerPoint hasn't gotten the message for some reason.

But double check to make sure that the user really is selecting text and not
just expecting to click in the text then copy the contents of the whole
textbox (which wouldn't be an unreasonable expectation).

Also, is it possible that:

- the presentation is password protected against modification

- the text is in a font that doesn't permit editable embedding

- PPT has been installed but not activated and has gone into "reduced
functionality mode"

Any of these things might cause this problem.

Finally, are there any add-ins installed that might be locking certain shapes
against editing by the user?

 

[Harlett O'Dowd]

(e-mail address removed)>, Harlett O'Dowd wrote:





OK, I can repro this now.  Thanks.

This is what you get when you've clicked inside a text box but haven't
selected any text (hence here's nothing selected to copy or cut, so both of
those choices are greyed out).

Given your earlier comment about how the user knows how to click and dragto
select text, I'm guessing you know all about this already, but apparently
PowerPoint hasn't gotten the message for some reason.

But double check to make sure that the user really is selecting text and not
just expecting to click in the text then copy the contents of the whole
textbox (which wouldn't be an unreasonable expectation).

Also, is it possible that:

- the presentation is password protected against modification

- the text is in a font that doesn't permit editable embedding

- PPT has been installed but not activated and has gone into "reduced
functionality mode"

Any of these things might cause this problem.

Finally, are there any add-ins installed that might be locking certain shapes
against editing by the user?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks for looking at this. And to be clear, the user is clearly
clicking and hilighting selected text. But when he r-clicks, what he
has hilighted has gone away

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Thanks for looking at this. And to be clear, the user is clearly
clicking and hilighting selected text. But when he r-clicks, what he
has hilighted has gone away

OK, I sort of figured that ... but as you know, it shouldn't behave that way,
which brings us back to my list 'o questions above.

 

[Harlett O'Dowd]

OK, I sort of figured that ... but as you know, it shouldn't behave that way,
which brings us back to my list 'o questions above.  -

OK, and thanks again for looking into this. What I am noticing is that
when the user left-clicks and highlights, the highlight goes away, so
naturally when he right-clicks, there is nothing to copy.


Let's go through your questions one at a time:


1) But double check to make sure that the user really is selecting
text and not
just expecting to click in the text then copy the contents of the
whole
textbox (which wouldn't be an unreasonable expectation).


yes, I have seen him do it and have recreated it myself on the same
document on my own PC. Mine works, his doesn't.


2) - the presentation is password protected against modification

not an issue. no password and the user created the latest test
document.

3) the text is in a font that doesn't permit editable embedding

Again, I can do it on the same document on my PC, so I don't think
it's a font thing, and it's happening on *all* of his PP docs, so I
would imagine we are talking multiple fonts and sizes here.

4) PPT has been installed but not activated and has gone into
"reduced
functionality mode"

Unlikely. I have installed multiple legal copies of Office using the
same site-license and disc. And again, other programs in the suite
(Word, Excel, Outlook) work perfectly.

5) Finally, are there any add-ins installed that might be locking
certain shapes
against editing by the user?

The only add-in I can think of would be Zimbra, but that is Outlook-
specific and shouldn't affect PP.


I *think* that's all your questions. Thanks again for looking.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

OK, and thanks again for looking into this. What I am noticing is that
when the user left-clicks and highlights, the highlight goes away, so
naturally when he right-clicks, there is nothing to copy.

Got ya, and thanks for the answers to the other Qs.

Have you tried Detect and Repair on this user's Office setup? I'd do that if not.

And maybe check for updated mouse/touchpad drivers; there's always a possibility that something in the
driver is confusing/interfering with PPT, even though it doesn't present a problem in other apps.

 

[Harlett O'Dowd]

Got ya, and thanks for the answers to the other Qs.  

Have you tried Detect and Repair on this user's Office setup?  I'd do that if not.

And maybe check for updated mouse/touchpad drivers; there's always a possibility that something in the
driver is confusing/interfering with PPT, even though it doesn't present a problem in other apps.

It appears to be a profile issue.

What I did:

Performed a detect and repair, then searched for updates from the
MSOffice site (there were none.)

I rebooted and logged on as the administrator, not the user.

Opened a test PP doc.

No problem.

Rebooted.

Logged in as the user.

Opened the exact same doc.

Doesn't work.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

behave t
hat
do t
hat if not.
a poss
ibility that something in the
present
a problem in other apps.

It appears to be a profile issue.

What I did:

Performed a detect and repair, then searched for updates from the
MSOffice site (there were none.)

I rebooted and logged on as the administrator, not the user.

Opened a test PP doc.

No problem.

Rebooted.

Logged in as the user.

Opened the exact same doc.

Doesn't work.

I sure wish there were more info on corrupted profiles. But it sounds
like you've nailed it. Try creating a new profile for the user next?

 

[Harlett O'Dowd]

I sure wish there were more info on corrupted profiles.  But it sounds
like you've nailed it.  Try creating a new profile for the user next?- Hide quoted text -

From your keyboard to God's monitor.

I have folks accidentally corrupting their profiles all the time - and
almost always in regards to Office products. I wish there was some
information on what to delete so Office could re-create its settings
without disturbing the rest of the user's profile.

 

[Steve Rindsberg]

Hide quoted text -

From your keyboard to God's monitor.

I have folks accidentally corrupting their profiles all the time - and
almost always in regards to Office products. I wish there was some
information on what to delete so Office could re-create its settings
without disturbing the rest of the user's profile.

I've never done this, but it might be worth a try ... this describes
creating a new profile then copying old profile's settings to it in XP:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811151

Google "corrupt user profile" for other similar pages (including Vista
instrux).

I'd be interested to know if this works in your situation.