[PowerRename] Can't type in text fields

[Alacritous]

Microsoft PowerToys version

0.49.1

Running as admin

• Yes

Area(s) with issue?

PowerRename

Steps to reproduce

Right click on file(s) to rename them with power rename and I can't type into the text fields for Search For and Replace With. I can copy and paste text into the fields from other apps and it works to rename the files. I just can't type directly into the fields.

✔️ Expected Behavior

To be able to type text into the fields.

❌ Actual Behavior

Nothing happens. I can't even move the cursor in the text fields with the arrow keys. No key strokes are registered. There are no other problems with text entry in any other application. I can select the fields with the mouse and can change the values in the checkbox fields and select other options. I can even change the values of the checkboxes with the spacebar. I just can't get it to accept text entry into the text boxes.

Other Software

No response

[Alacritous]

I did uninstall, reboot and then reinstall the program before submitting this bug report. No change in behavior.

[franky920920]

Could you attach a full bug report file? Besides, what keyboard layout are you using?
Right-click on the tray icon and click Report Bug. Then drag-and-drop the generated file into the GitHub comment to upload it. Thanks!

[Alacritous]

Keyboard is English US standard 104 key keyboard.
PowerToysReport_2021-11-18-00-02-37.zip

[franky920920]

cc: @stefansjfw

[stefansjfw]

This is a strange one.. I'll take a look

[Lightningblade]

PowerToysReport_2021-11-21-00-35-15.zip
Same issue

[Peckingtonian]

I have the same issue.

PowerToysReport_2021-11-21-18-56-30.zip

[stefansjfw]

Can someone provide screen recording while hitting the issue? Also, does trying to type into the text fields results in any sound played by Windows?

[Alacritous]

Okay. Here ya go. I move the mouse onto the search text field and right click and past text into the field and then I hit keys to try and change the text. Spacebar and random keys and nothing happens. then I use the right click menu to cut text from the field. and then move to the check boxes and click a couple of times to change them and then move the mouse away and hit the space bar and the value changes. then I move to the replace text field and hit ctrl-a, ctrl-v, and ctrl-c and nothing happens then move to the file names and click to deselect some files and then move the mouse cursor away and hit the spacebar to select/deselect the file. The system doesn't make any sounds during this process.

Desktop.2021.11.22.-.13.05.41.04.mp4

.

[Lightningblade]

To add some additional context; It was always working with the old GUI of power rename, but since it got updated to an UWP app it doesn't work at all anymore. It is also both text fields that do not work.
https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/30607152/142930027-da891850-7dd3-4cec-8827-47255ef23bfc.mp4

Edit: Sorry I encoded it with h265. VLC can play it though

[Peckingtonian]

To add some additional context; It was always working with the old GUI of power rename, but since it got updated to an UWP app it doesn't work at all anymore. It is also both text fields that do not work. https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/30607152/142930027-da891850-7dd3-4cec-8827-47255ef23bfc.mp4

Exactly the same for me: the old GUI was fine but the new GUI is unusable.

[niels9001]

Random thought: could you try to disable the search history? Like this:

Wondering if this is the AutoSuggestBox flyout blocking text input somehow

[niels9001]

@Peckingtonian @Lightningblade @Alacritous Can you share your:

Screen resolution and scaling settings? (E.g. 1920x1080, 200%)

[Peckingtonian]

Disabling the search history has no effect.

I can paste text into the search/replace fields but only by using the "Paste Ctrl+V" option. The Undo and Select All menu options work too.

Screen resolution: 1920x1080
Scaling: 100%

[Lightningblade]

Well yeah. @niels9001 probably not the average but oh well:

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[Alacritous]

4 monitor setup. The problem exists if the dialog is on any of them. All displays are native resolution.
2,4 are 1920x1080
1,3 are 1680x1050

and I tried enabling/disabling all the options for powerrename that I could with the dialogues and messed with the config files too. Including deleting the config files and letting it recreate them. Nothing changed.

[tevey]

I have the same issue that i can't type in powerrename since the ui update

[Chaphasilor]

In my case, I can type most characters, except for some special characters.
Specifically, I can't type any character that requires ctrl + alt as a modifier, like curly braces ({ and }). Depending on the keyboard layout, the characters change: I can input a backslash using the US layout, with only shift as a modifier, but not using a German layout, because it requires me to press ctrl + alt.
Unlike with some terminals, using AltGr instead of ctrl + alt doesn't work either.
Copying the characters into the field works just fine.

Edit: Turned on my speakers, and I can hear the Windows 10 "error sound" being played each time I try to input such a character.

[stefansjfw]

@Chaphasilor That's a bit different issue tracked here #14099

New PowerToys v0.51 is out: https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/releases/tag/v0.51.0

Can someone try and confirm that this issue is still there?

[Werve]

#14634 With v0.51 still have the problem.

[stefansjfw]

Can someone post latest bug report while running PowerToys v0.51?

[stefansjfw]

/bugreport

[ghost]

Hi there!

We need a bit more information to really debug this issue. Can you add a "Report Bug" zip file here? You right click on our system tray icon and just go to report bug. Then drag the zipfile from your desktop onto the GitHub comment box in this issue. Thanks!

[Werve]

Didn't tried the 0.01-0.02 builds but here is the 0.51 bug report:
PowerToysReport_2021-12-14-23-21-49.zip

[stefansjfw]

Thanks @Werve!

Let's try few more things:

• Exit PowerToys
• go to Program Files/PowerToys/modules/PowerRename
• Run PowerToys.PowerRename.exe manually
• Check if input fields accept keyboard input

• Start PowerToys
• Open PowerRename Settings
• Disable PowerRename
• Check if mentioned input fields in Settings app accept keyboard input (FancyZones -> excluded app & PowerToys Run search plugins fields)

[Werve]

1. Still don't work
2. Same, don't wok

Just noticed that sometimes if I keep press a key on a filed that dont work (cant write) the program crash.

[Peckingtonian]

1. Still don't work.
2. Still don't work.

[Peckingtonian]

v0.51 bug report:

PowerToysReport_2021-12-14-23-51-23.zip

[Alacritous]

What about this one https://github.com/stefansjfw/PowerToys/releases/tag/v0.0.2 ?

Sorry for doing this like this, but as I can't reproduce this issue, I need as much info as I can get :) Thanks for your help!

Things to try:

does input fields work?
does "dance" with switching to other window and back to other input field still make input fields to work?
is there any other difference in behavior of the input fields?

No change

[4DEATH]

Same issue v0.51.1
PowerToysReport_2021-12-15-19-33-42.zip

[stefansjfw]

Ok. Thanks all! For the next iteration, with this release https://github.com/stefansjfw/PowerToys/releases/tag/v0.0.3 can you do the following:

• start powertoys
• click one of the checkboxes to enable it (e.g. Case sensitive)
• try to type in Search for field - one letter only
• uncheck the selected checkbox
• do the "dance" to make input search field work - click one input field, focus other window, click another input field
• when input field works after the "dance", type one letter into it (any letter)
• check the Case sensitive check box again
• close PowerRename

After this, generate the bug report and attach it here. This release just has bunch of logs added, no functional changes.. So I don't expect it to fix anything :D

[4DEATH]

Same issue v0.51.1 PowerToysReport_2021-12-15-19-33-42.zip

I solved this issue by re-enabling "Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service" and rebooting as suggested in here for Terminal.

Maybe relevant for others too.

[yoitsmeman]

I've been following this issue for awhile and tried all solutions listed, and so far the one that has worked is what 4DEATH listed. I can use the powerrename input fields without doing the "dance". So peeps make sure the "Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service" is set to manual and restart, and see if that solves it.

[Alacritous]

I've been following this issue for awhile and tried all solutions listed, and so far the one that has worked is what 4DEATH listed. I can use the powerrename input fields without doing the "dance". So peeps make sure the "Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service" is set to manual and restart, and see if that solves it.

I have that disabled. I just reenabled it and started it and it had no effect.

[4DEATH]

I've been following this issue for awhile and tried all solutions listed, and so far the one that has worked is what 4DEATH listed. I can use the powerrename input fields without doing the "dance". So peeps make sure the "Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service" is set to manual and restart, and see if that solves it.

I have that disabled. I just reenabled it and started it and it had no effect.

Did you reboot? Because for me just starting the service did not work.

[Alacritous]

I've been following this issue for awhile and tried all solutions listed, and so far the one that has worked is what 4DEATH listed. I can use the powerrename input fields without doing the "dance". So peeps make sure the "Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service" is set to manual and restart, and see if that solves it.

I have that disabled. I just reenabled it and started it and it had no effect.

Did you reboot? Because for me just starting the service did not work.

I just saw that you have to reboot. and I did and now it works. GOD DAMMIT, MICROSOFT!

So much bloat and crap. And when something goes wrong the answer is usually to burn it all down and start over.

I'm so sick of this. I disable the shit I don't need or want and find out that the web of interdependencies is so byzantine that it breaks something that IT HAS NO BUSINESS BEING RELIANT ON.

GOD DAMMIT!

[Jay-o-Way]

microsoft/terminal#4448 and microsoft/terminal#9890

[SunsetQuest]

First off, I would like to say thank you to everyone for these great tools. I have been an on-and-off user for the last 20 years or so.

I am having this input issue also - not a big deal for me but just wanted to share it. When I type in the powerrename text boxes it will not allow me to type anything. I can type it in notepad however and paste it in.

I tried:

• Rebooting (no luck)
• Running as admin (no luck)
• Tried on-screen keyboard (no luck)
• Tried a second keyboard. (no luck)
• Copy and paste works - though that is hard to use.

Note:

• I am on version .57.
• I have a corsair keyboard (not sure if that is related)
• Windows 10, AMD CPU, desktop PC
• I have not had this issue with anything else.

I find if I click away from powerrename and back again maybe like 30 times it will occasionally work but stops if I change the input focus to another control. This video shows that issue.

PowerRenameInputIssue.mp4

[crutkas]

@SunsetQuest do you have Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service turned off?

[SunsetQuest]

@crutkas - I did have Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service disabled. I reenabled (and then had to restart for some reason after that) and it resolved the issue.