civil 3d randomly stop responding to keyboard inputs

[jeff.wangD95HG]

this is happening a lot lately and doesn't get fixed until I save and close the project and reopen it. then it will work normally but at some random point it will happen again.

everything else is still responsive just not keyboard inputs. And my key board clearly works since I am able to type right now.

anyone knows what is going on? its not happening with a specific project

[brian.strandberg]

Its hard to debug these types of issues remotely.  One thing I would suggest is to reset your Civil 3d installation and see if that helps with the issue.  

On the chance it does not, I can tell you what I do when Civil 3d gets stuck.  Go to the windows Taskbar, and Hover over the Civil 3d icon.  Assuming you are running with the default settings, it should pop up a mini-window for each drawing you have open.  Go to the drawing that is stuck and press the 'x' in the upper right to close the drawing.

This will force a file save dialog to pop up.  Press Cancel, as you likely don't want to close the drawing right now.

This is pretty good at getting it unstuck with about 85% of the times it does that for me.  Some issues this won't help.

[MMcCall402]

I get this occasionally when I have multiple drawing files open.  Somehow the command line becomes active in a drawing other than the current one. switching drawings and then back again usually gets the focus back where it should be.

[neilyj666]

I experience the exact thing that @MMcCall402 describes - randomly occurs and can't reproduce on demand

[ChrisRS]

I am pretty sure that it is a new ergonomic enhancement signaling you to take a short break.

Maybe Civil 3D is tired and wants to take a short break.

😁😁😁

I have encountered the lost focus issue that @MMcCall402 and @neilyj666 mentioned.

Changing layout tabs usually resolves it. 

At times I lose the mouse cursor. {Ctrl][Alt][{Del], followed by cancel or [Esc] resolves it.

[brian.strandberg]

This issue (loosing focus, inputting in non-open drawing) was really bad in Civil 3d 2018, I haven't seen it in 2022+.  Curious what version you are running when it does this so I know its still an issue.  

[michael]

Still in 2022, had this happen about an hour ago.

Only fix is to close the drawing the commands are being run in and she comes back to life.

Mike

[jeff.wangD95HG · Accepted solution]

thanks guys

right now I am testing out if this will solve the problem

Typing a command in the command line, and it does not show up in Civil 3D 2015 or 2016 - IMAGINiT Te...

using LEVELOFDETAILOFF

I waited a day to make sure the problem doesn't persist and as of now it has been resolved

[Pointdump]

Hi Jeff,
Have you vacuumed your keyboard lately?
Dave

[jeff.wangD95HG]

i am 100000% sure its not hardware issue

[Pointdump]

Glad to hear. It has fallen to my lot to ask the hard questions. 🙂
The keyboard on my laptop is part of the cooling system, so I vacuum mine every week.
Dave

[ChrisRS]

I find using Civil 3D like eating lunch at a picnic.

If an occasional fly lands on my food or on my face, I just flick it away.

Unless the situation is really egregious, I don't take notice of it.

In answer to your question, i keep current on Civil 3D and use 2024 and 2025.

I am certain that I have seen this with 2024, but I am uncertain about 2025.
I will try to be more observant. 

I seem to have stored this in my "Not Deadly - Things That Will Never be Fixed" folder.

I keep it next to my "Bright, Shiney, Cloudy - Things I will Never Use" folder.

I acknowledge that, bright, shiny. cloudy, things are good for many and may be the future.

I am too old, too small and too cash strapped to benefit. That is OK. 

[ChrisRS]

I have not vacuumed my keyboard, but as a precaution, I have stopped adding cream and sugar to my coffee. 😁

Actually, that's a lie. I use a standing desk setup, so my beverage sits about 8" lower than the keyboard.
Barring a gravity failure, I think that I am safe. 

[jeff.wangD95HG]

@ChrisRS 

you guys are all loser.

I don't even drink coffee and I don't use mug either. I only have water in a sports drink bottle (basically top is sealed and you can only suck the water out to get water with straw). completely eliminating all forms of potential water damage.

[ChrisRS]

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@jeff.wangD95HG wrote:

@ChrisRS 

you guys are all loser.

I don't even drink coffee and I don't use mug either. I only have water in a sports drink bottle (basically top is sealed and you can only suck the water out to get water with straw). completely eliminating all forms of potential water damage.

---

Thank you for the call out @jeff.wangD95HG.

I believe that you are taking literally some remarks that are intended to be humorous.

The smiley icon 😁 indicates a joke.

Inside jokes, bad jokes, dad jokes, and sarcasm are not always obvious.

I apologize for any confusion.

To all of us High Badge Number Forum Frequenting Folk: 
It is good to remember that our familiarity, shorthand and inside jokes might be off-putting to others.

I can't help myself:
I agree with you that mugs do not belong in an office.
Mugs should be scrubbed until scrupulously clean,

placed in a freezer while still damp,

removed when frosty,

and filled with a beverage other than coffee.

😁😁😁

Have a nice weekend.

[m_perryFNZ2G]

Yes, that happens to my C3D 2025.1 and is annoying. I hadn't posted about that until now as I thought it might just be me. I have had this happen and my command line (floating) disappear on me and have to resort to using CUE and customize C3D workspace and go to palettes and command line and switch Appearance / Show to Yes and No. Then exit and see if it comes back. If it doesn't then I type Save and Exit and open up the dwg again and all is fine again.