Accent marks suddenly stop working

[DJ_Coder]

I have noticed that sometimes accents will not work(option + e, will not type é for example). I some occasions the text is originally cut from a web site, but in one occassion it was a file originating from another computer using NeoOffice with the same prefs/set-up( meaning both have Spanish-Spain as the main language).

The behavior went back to normal once saved again, the files had already been saved using NeoOffice. One thing worth mentioning is that both computers are saving using the .doc format instead of the native NeoOffice format.

I hope that this is not a bug.

[Glenner]

For what it is worth, no such problem here - not with German nor French.

[ovvldc]

[Glenner]

[sardisson]

It does vary by keyboard layout, but with the US layout, opt+e followed by e is required to produce é (opt=alt).

I've never had any issues, either. DJ_Coder, what keyboard layout are you using and what OS version?

Smokey

P.S. Oscar, could you have a look at bug 897? I have a feeling Ed won't get to it for a while, and it's the first solid report we've had on the subject, so I'd like to at least narrow down whether it's locale related or happens to everyone.... Gratias

[pluby]

[ovvldc]

[sardisson]

[ovvldc]

[jjmckenzie51]

[OPENSTEP]

FWIW things in English and French locales with keyboard dead keys seem to be just ducky for me on 10.4. I'll install Czech when I get back to the left coast to see if it's locale isolated.

ed

[DJ_Coder]

OPENSTEP: Also test Spanish-Spain.

Just in case it helps I am using Mac Minis with 10.4.2. Also the keyboard that is bring used on those machines is the Kensington PilotBoard Mac Wireless. And, all user using US keyboard layout.

I will sit down on my own computer later and try to reproduce the problem to see if I can get any more useful information on this issue. While, this issue has not happened to me;it has to some of the users in my network,who in turn showed it to me.

P.S. OPENTEP:what do you mean by ducky? is that good or bad?...I just want to make sure.

[OPENSTEP]

Theoretically the keyboard shouldn't matter since all are going through the same drivers, but I wouldn't put it past Kensington to have some kind of funky special driver...I'll look into that a little bit. I tried spanish with both the US and Spanish keyboard layouts and didn't have a problem with the dead accent keys (at least the ones I could find on the Spanish layout). I'm switching keyboard layouts after launching the software, however, so may not be exactly reproducing the test case. I'm working with 10.4.2 on a TiBook with its builtin keyboard.

ed

(ducky = charming )

[DJ_Coder]

I sat down with some time and figured that the problem is caused by saving text document files in .doc format instead of the native .sxw format.

Here is what I did:
I opened a new blank Text Document window wrote a couple of word in Spanish, saved it as a .doc file, and closed the window.

Then I went to the Finder and double clicked on the test file. When I tried to type accent marks in the file it would not let me, rather, it left a blank as if I had typed nothing.

In order to correct this behavior I have to "save as" and then I can go back to using accent marks.


This was not the case when I saved the file as .sxw.

Now I have no clue as to what to do next, I need to continue using .doc as the to save my files at least until everyone in the office has NeoOffice.......unless Word can open .sxw format files, can it?

[ovvldc]