The jumping text cursor

[ChrisGreaves]

have been plagued these past few months by an inexplicable propensity for my (Word 2003) text cursor to leap a few lines above where I’m (two-fingered) realise that the text is going where typing on my laptop computer. I’m minding my own business, tapping away and suddenly I’ve already typed instead of continuing down here.

Inexplicable no more!

When I’ve used the mouse to select the typing position, the mouse cursor remains at the position on the screen where last it was used, say 725 pixels from the left and 250 pixels from the top of the screen.
As I continue typing the mouse cursor remains in place, (725,250), the text cursor is at the end of the typed text, all goes well until my thumb, finger or wrist brushes the hyper-sensitive mouse pad.

Which is interpreted as a click.

The text cursor leaps immediately to the last-known mouse cursor position, in my example (725,250).
With my head down, eyes focused on the keyboard, two index fingers rat-tat-tatting away, my most recent text is inserted at whatever point in my document corresponds to (725,250).

I thought it was a problem in Win7/MSWord, but it is my fault, after all.

[Rudi]

Would it help to deactivate the mouse pad. You should be able to do that in the PC settings.

[macropod]

That's exactly how mine's configured. Anytime the mouse is connected, the touchpad is automatically deactivated.

[DaveA]

Cut off the "Thumbs" and then they will not drag across the touch pad :evilgrin

Or tape a thin cardboard over the touch pad.

[Rudi]

Cut off the "Thumbs" and then they will not drag across the touch pad - what a doctor will do!
Or tape a thin cardboard over the touch pad - what a handyman would do!

[macropod]

Cut off the "Thumbs" and then they will not drag across the touch pad - what a doctor will do!
Or tape a thin cardboard over the touch pad - what a handyman would do!

IT support would simply glue the lid down...

[Rudi]

An accountant would simply figure it out...

[BobH]

A mechanic would run diagnostics, for a fee, and replace the mouse pad module, for an even bigger fee.

[Leif]

Chris - having read all the above responses, I think plain, old-fashioned therapy would be the simplest...

[ChrisGreaves]

Chris - having read all the above responses, I think plain, old-fashioned therapy would be the simplest...

We tried that, Leif, remember? back in Woody's Lounge

[Leif]

Yep, but it worked, didn't it?

Spoiler

LookIntoMyEyes.gif

[ChrisGreaves]

Would it help to deactivate the mouse pad. You should be able to do that in the PC settings.

Thanks Rudi. I googled "deactivate the mouse pad" but none of the quick fixes worked (Hold down the top-left corner of the touchpad 5 seconds, Use Fn-F5, use Fn-F7, put your head between your knees and have a tribal elder sprinkle lizard's blood on your neck, use devmgmt.msc to disable the Touchpad - I don't have a Touchpad in my Control Panel - Mouse or in my devmgmt.msc tabs!
Now that really ticks me off - having something that I don't have, working against me, and I can't disable it since it doesn't exist!

But see my response to Leif.

I finally broke down, ran to TouchPadPal 1.4, created a restore point and installed the little d/l.
Now when I typein MSWord2003 the mouse cursor disappears, and it re-appears when I stop typing.

(signed) "At peace for now" of Toronto.

[ChrisGreaves]

Yep, but it worked, didn't it?

Moire or less, yes

[StuartR]

Yep, but it worked, didn't it?

Spoiler

LookIntoMyEyes.gif

That, Leif, is truly horrible. I think I haver a migraine now. That image should come with a health warning.