Pressing F3 shows text window

Hi,

I am using AutoCAD 2004 and when I press F3 to turn Osnap on or off, the text window also shows, similar to pressing F2. Why and how can I avoid this?

Thanks.

I'm not sure how that is possible unless someone did some customizing and something got screwed up. Is that it?

This problem did not happen before. I don't know what changed in the computer, I have installed programs recently such Norton 360, windows updates, etc but nobody did any customizing in AutoCAD.

By the way, pressing again F3 will remove the text window, so it is like a toggle.

Some keyboards come with "key mapping" software. Have you laoded any new programs that may have redefined the "F" keys?

What happens if you press +?

I've uncovered one possibility for reprogramming the F3 function key that involves editing the acad.mns file.

First, make sure AutoCAD is shut down before doing the following.

The file is opened with Notepad and using the Find command (under the Edit pulldown menu) search for the word ACCELERATORS. In this section of the file type the following:

[internal+"F3"]'_Osnap

Save the acad.mns file.

Start AutoCAD. Upon starting it will compile the acad.mns file and create a new acad.mnc file. Now try out your reprogrammed F3 key. Does it work as expected?

I couldn't find the acad.mns file anywhere on the computer.

Ctrl+F toggles Osnap.

I couldn't find the acad.mns file anywhere on the computer.

I thought we were talking about AutoCAD 2004, right?

yes. AutoCAD 2004.

Open AutoCAD. In the pull-down menus at the top click on Tools. At the bottom of the list that appears click on Options. When the Options dialog window opens click on the Files tab. Expand the Support File Search Path folder. The first search path listed will be the location of your menu files which include: acad.mnc, mnl, mnr, mns and mnu.

The reason you did not find the acad.mns file in your search is most likely due to the fact that your Windows' folder options (in Explorer) are set on the default to NOT show known file types.

I tried modifying acad.mns as you suggested but now when I press F3 it opens the Osnap settings window and does not toggle Osnap.

Then I guess we'll just have to figure out a way to toggle it won't we?

Sorry for the trouble and thanks for the help. For now, I will be using Ctrl+F as you suggested.

Thanks.

I suppose you could always try using the REPAIR option. I still can't figure out how the F3 key got messed up in the first place.

Does your keyboard have an F-Lock button on it? It might be located in the upper left-hand corner. If so, toggle it and see what happens.

For anyone wiht a newer release of AutoCAD that uses a CUI here is a tutorial about assigning temporary override keys that may prove useful.

http://www.cadalyst.com/manufacturing/avatech-tricks-function-key-and-object-snap-overrides-10622

One other thing I just thought of Ghazi. Type the word Osnap. This should bring up the Drafting Settings dialog window. We want to look at the Object Snap tab. Look in the upper left-hand corner of this tab. See where it says Object Snap On (F3)? Is this option enabled?

One other possible train of thought - is it a sticky/faulty keyboard??

And even one more thought...

Ghazi:

Do you use custom lisp routines? If so, maybe one of them reset the F3 key in some manner (for whatever reason) and forgot to return it to its original setting when the routine ends. I'm thinking it may have reset the Osmode value.