Some shortcuts in Inkscape 0.92.2+ do not work [SOLVED]

[lcm]

Hi all. When I updated Inkscape from 0.92.1 to 0.92.2, most default keyboard shortcuts for Node editing stopped working. For example, shortcuts Shift+C and Shift+S to make selected nodes cusp/smooth, < > and [ ] to rotate and scale selected nodes do not work at all. Insert is inserting new nodes, while Shift+I does not. Shortcuts H and V now flip whole edited object instead of just selected nodes.

These shortcuts does not appear in Keyboard Shortcuts section in Preferences, and they can't be found in /share/keys/inkscape.xml or /share/ui/keybindings.rc, so I can't change them.

I was expecting this to be fixed in 0.92.3, so I just went back to 0.92.1 for a while. But even in 0.92.4 this issue is still exists. I've tried both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. I have just checked fresh installation of portable Inkscape on another system (Windows 8 64-bit) — shortcuts don't work there either.

So I ask inkscapers of this forum: if you're on Windows, please test these shortcuts and reply here.
TL;DR: Node shortcuts don't work in Inkscape 0.92.2+ on Windows. Plz test.

SOLUTION: Control Panel → “Region and Language” → “Keyboard and Languages” tab → “Change keyboards...” button → Remove all keyboard layouts except English → Re-add your keyboard layouts back → ??? → PROFIT!

[brynn]

Welcome to the forum!

Windows 7, 64-bit, Inkscape 0.92.3.  All those shortcuts are working for me.

I wonder if you might have some other program installed, which would affect the keyboard, or if you may have altered some keyboard shortcuts on your system, outside of Inkscape?  I think I heard about using programs which create flashy cursors or other special effects can somehow affect parts of Inkscape.  Anything like that?

After searching bug reports.  Do you have any Comodo products installed?  I think they make security programs, such as antivirus.  I'm not sure what else they might make.

Do you notice these shortcuts are doing something else on your computer?  I found one bug report where someone assigned some shortcuts to do other things on their computer, so Inkscape doesn't respond to them anymore.

I didn't find a bug report about this problem (specifically).  So either developers think they fixed it (but didn't) or it never has been reported.  This is actually the first time I've heard about it.  (I've heard about problems with other shortcuts, but not these.)  Do you know if it was ever reported, or do you have a link to it?

[Moini]

The user asked others to test. Does it work for you, Brynn?

[Moini]

Works for me, btw.

[lcm]

I wonder if you might have some other program installed, which would affect the keyboard, or if you may have altered some keyboard shortcuts on your system, outside of Inkscape?  I think I heard about using programs which create flashy cursors or other special effects can somehow affect parts of Inkscape.  Anything like that?
Do you have any Comodo products installed?  I think they make security programs, such as antivirus.  I'm not sure what else they might make.
Do you notice these shortcuts are doing something else on your computer?  I found one bug report where someone assigned some shortcuts to do other things on their computer, so Inkscape doesn't respond to them anymore.

I've just tried shutting down every other program and service, except system-related and Inkscape. No luck.
The only program that theoretically could affect shortcuts is AutoHotkey, but I've never experienced any problems with it. In fact, I tried to send simulated keystrokes to Inscape, and even that way didn't work.
My last guess was that some system update is (not) installed, but on another system it doesn't work either.
I have no idea where else to look.

[brynn]

The user asked others to test. Does it work for you, Brynn?

Windows 7, 64-bit, Inkscape 0.92.3.  All those shortcuts are working for me.

[brynn]

I've just tried shutting down every other program and service, except system-related and Inkscape. No luck.
The only program that theoretically could affect shortcuts is AutoHotkey, but I've never experienced any problems with it. In fact, I tried to send simulated keystrokes to Inscape, and even that way didn't work.
My last guess was that some system update is (not) installed, but on another system it doesn't work either.
I have no idea where else to look.

Wow, that's some thorough testing!

How did you install Inkscape?  Did you download an installation package?  Or did you compile it?  If you compiled it, I might think maybe something went wrong somewhere.  (Note that I don't know how to compile, I just know that it's a bit of a process.)  If you downloaded an installation package, you could try downloading it from a different source.  Although based on your earlier comments, I wouldn't be surprised if you tried that already.

Unless someone else has an idea, I would escalate this to developers.  I have no idea what might be happening, or what to suggest.  This message tells you where to contact Inkscape developers (who don't visit forums).  https://forum.inkscapecommunity.com/index.php?topic=628.0

Usually I offer to relay a message to the mailing list, because I understand how you might not want to subscribe just for one problem.  But in this case, I feel like it would be better for you to discuss it first hand, so you can answer questions directly, provide relevant files, screenshots, etc.  Or maybe you want to try the chat?  The chat has been really popular lately, so I would guess it probably will not be a long wait for the right dev to answer.

I'm not sure if I would think of this as a bug, until we find someone else with the same experience (which I haven't heard of, myself).  So I'm not sure if reporting a bug would be the best route for support, at this point.  But on the other hand, this is out of my league.

[lcm]

Unless someone else has an idea, I would escalate this to developers.  I have no idea what might be happening, or what to suggest.  This message tells you where to contact Inkscape developers (who don't visit forums).  https://forum.inkscapecommunity.com/index.php?topic=628.0

Nah, I'm too lazy for that kind of journey. And since nobody has confirmed that issue, I assume that the problem is on my side, so there's no need to trouble devs. I'll just fix it in my own way.
But thanks for your care, folks.

[Moini]

Have you checked if there is a custom keys.xml file in your user configuration directory? Have you tried deleting it?

[lcm]

Have you checked if there is a custom keys.xml file in your user configuration directory? Have you tried deleting it?

Just checked — nope, the only xml-file in AppData related to Inkscape is preferences.xml.

I also tried completely removing everything from /share/keys, even default.xml — all the same, Ins is working, H/V are sort-of-working, everything else is not.

[Moini]

Removing default.xml from share/keys will probably break all keyboard shortcuts. The file was intact, though, when you started to have this issue, I assume.

What is your operating system language? Do you use any special keyboard apps?

[Moini]

Did you uninstall, then reinstall, for your updates?

[lcm]

Removing default.xml from share/keys will probably break all keyboard shortcuts. The file was intact, though, when you started to have this issue, I assume.

Yup, it did break, but only configurable shortcuts. Hard-coded keys still work (or could possibly work, in my case). And yup, the file was untouched until that day.

What is your operating system language? Do you use any special keyboard apps?

Windows 7 SP1, Russian. Keyboard layouts are English (US) and Russian. English is the default one.
There is an app related to my keyboard, and AutoHotkey. I tried to switch them off, also removing them from Startup and reboot the system — didn't help.
Also, I just got an idea and tried On-Screen Keyboard. You guessed it, it didn't work either.

Did you uninstall, then reinstall, for your updates?

You mean Inkscape? I prefer using portable version, but I've tested the installer recently.
Installed, with erasing previous preferences; uninstalled, without keeping user data; reinstalled again. No changes.
As for system updates, I'm not desperate enough to undertake such drastic measures.

I wrote a small script to click on corresponding buttons on the toolbar to make corners smooth/cusp, it's easing my suffering for now.

I'm starting to believe that my PC was assembled on a big-endian burial ground.

[Moini]

What happens when you:

- invert the order of keyboard layouts
- deactivate the different layouts and use one, and also the other, separately

[lcm]

What happens when you:
- invert the order of keyboard layouts
- deactivate the different layouts and use one, and also the other, separately

First, let me hug you. Let me hug you real tight.

I just tried adding, removing and reordering my keyboard layouts. When only English one is left, it worked like a charm. Then, I re-added Russian layout back, and it still works. After several tries I may conclude that the problem is neither in layouts themselves, nor in displayed order of layouts, but in the order of adding these layouts, i.e. English must be added first, then everything else.

Thanks to you guys, it finally solved.
I can't fully express my gratitude, so here's a poorly drawn picture of a derp-cat as a substitution.

[brynn]

Ok, just so that I can at least try to understand.

What keyboard layouts are you talking about?  Do you mean change what the keys actually do?  Like change it so that A types D or something?  Or are you talking about a list that's organized as a layout?  Is this layout something in Inkscape or something on your system?

[lcm]

What keyboard layouts are you talking about?  Do you mean change what the keys actually do?  Like change it so that A types D or something?  Or are you talking about a list that's organized as a layout?  Is this layout something in Inkscape or something on your system?

It's a setting in operating system that allows user to type in different languages. In different layouts, keyboard keys are typing different characters (qwerty / йцукен).
Earlier, shortcuts in Inkscape (on Windows, at least) could only work in English-ish layout. Now they work regardless of active keyboard layout.
It seems that because the code must work on different systems, some unattended system-specific issues are really tricky to pinpoint.

[brynn]

Oh I see.  Thanks for explaining.

So I guess this should be reported as a bug?

[lcm]

So I guess this should be reported as a bug?

I guess, it wouldn't hurt. Can you do that?

[brynn]

I probably don't have a good enough grasp on the issue, to write a good report.  But you could do it yourself.  Here's info on how to do it, with the link to the bug tracker:  https://inkscape.org/contribute/report-bugs/

If you don't want to get involved on this level, it sounds like Moini understand it.  Although I have no idea if she has time.

I could try to make the report, if no one else can.  But I would not be able to answer questions, if developers ask me something.

[Moini]

Thanks for the cat Glad it was possible to work around it!