Can't delete text box in PowerPoint

Anonymous

I've recently had a problem deleting text boxes in PowerPoint. I'm able to select the box by clicking on the box perimeter (which changers the little circles and squares at the perimeter from open to solid, as it should). But when I hit delete, it deletes the last text character within the box, rather than the box itself. I also can't copy the box. When I select the box and hit command-C, I hear a little whish, signifying (I suppose) an disallowed action. The boxes in question are not part of a slide background. This problem does not occur with pictures.

I've found a workaround which is to select the box differently, namely by dragging the cursor around the box with the mouse button held down. Then I can (sometimes) delete or copy it. Still looking for a real fix.

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Anonymous

I stumbled on a fix today.

Under system preferences, chose Keyboard, then chose Shortcuts, and then at the bottom under Full Keyboard Access, click the "All controls" radio button.

Previously, the "Text boxes and lists only" radio button was selected. I can recreate the problem by clicking this other radio button, i.e. the fix is fully reversible. I don't think I ever touched either of these buttons before yesterday.

I believe this fix completely resolves for me the issues with selecting text boxes in PowerPoint.

Note that it's very puzzling that a system tabbing option should have anything to do with selecting text boxes in PowerPoint. I expect there is still an underlying bug.

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43 additional answers

Anonymous

2014-09-28T15:12:54+00:00

I had the same issue and spent a wasted few hours before arriving at this post. Thanks Ralph!
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Anonymous

2014-09-22T13:59:51+00:00

I have had exactly the same issue as described by others, I deleted all prefs, reinstalled software to no effect. This 'fix' worked for me too, wish Id found this thread sooner!
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Anonymous

2014-08-16T20:06:47+00:00
Same issue : When opening a Powerpoint file the cursor is directed in the first text box when clicking on any slide and the tab "Format" appears in the top of Powerpoint menu.... Then it becomes impossible to select any element of the slide.... as one of the text box is by default selected and opened for a text edition and text modification

I did the following with no success (Don't loose your time) :
- Delete Office 2011 and all the files (As presented by Microsoft : Applications, Library files and Documents files ...
- Reinstall Office 2011 from scratch
- Reset SMC
- I am right now trying to reinstall OSX Mavericks (I let you know ...)
Nothing works...

I observe the following :
- Other users of the same Mac don't have this issue
- The provided solution "system preferences, chose Keyboard, then chose Shortcuts, and then at the bottom under Full Keyboard Access, click the "All controls" radio button" offers a partial solution
  
  When opening powerpoint file "Tab Format still appears" and a text box is opened by default
  
  But now I can also leave the text box and select/erase/edit/modify any object in the slide
Any Idea to definitively sort out this issue ????

Thank in advance
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Anonymous

2014-06-03T11:21:57+00:00

The text boxes has been driving me crazy. Now, after clicking on the "All controls" radio button, text boxes and objects seem to be working normally. Thanks!
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