Eclipse Community Forums: Newcomers » New Install and Cannot type Asterisk

Home » Newcomers » Newcomers » New Install and Cannot type Asterisk(Bug?)

New Install and Cannot type Asterisk [message #1065593]

Wed, 26 June 2013 11:30

Eclipse User

I just installed Eclipse Kepler, PDT, and Aptana and went to start working and I noticed that the editor refuses to let me type an asterisk. I can type "8" but no matter what I do when I press shift+8, nothing happens. I thought maybe somehow a shortcut/keybinding got set for shift+8 but I don't see one in the preferences.

This obviously makes adding comments particularly annoying. What's going on? Any ideas? Thank you so much for your help!

Re: New Install and Cannot type Asterisk [message #1067176 is a reply to message #1065593]

Sun, 07 July 2013 03:47

Eclipse User

the same thing also happens for me. what I used to get around that is the multiplication * instead of the combination.

Re: New Install and Cannot type Asterisk [message #1072948 is a reply to message #1067176]

Tue, 23 July 2013 16:33

Eclipse User

If you are on a laptop, the workaround doesn't get around the problem. (No numeric keypad on the laptop). This is a show stopper, at least while travelling.

Re: New Install and Cannot type Asterisk [message #1072951 is a reply to message #1065593]

Tue, 23 July 2013 16:44

Eclipse User

Which editor? All of them?

Re: New Install and Cannot type Asterisk [message #1072953 is a reply to message #1072951]

Tue, 23 July 2013 16:46

Eclipse User

I was using Java (in Kepler) and then tried HTML. Both refused to allow an asterisk.

[Updated on: Tue, 23 July 2013 16:47] by Moderator

Re: New Install and Cannot type Asterisk [message #1072966 is a reply to message #1072951]

Tue, 23 July 2013 17:08

Eclipse User

One additional piece of information: When I go into Preferences/editor tests, it does allow an asterisk in the String Editor text box. It appears to be something specific to the code (and Html) editor that prevents the typing of an asterisk.

Re: New Install and Cannot type Asterisk [message #1072975 is a reply to message #1072966]

Tue, 23 July 2013 17:29

Eclipse User

When you go into where? Can you attach an image? What happens if you open a PHP file in the Text Editor? A txt file in the Text Editor?

Re: New Install and Cannot type Asterisk [message #1073562 is a reply to message #1072948]

Thu, 25 July 2013 00:10

Eclipse User

Oh yeah. Forgot about that. My laptop has the numerical keypad though.

Re: New Install and Cannot type Asterisk [message #1081079 is a reply to message #1072966]

Tue, 06 August 2013 15:35

Eclipse User

You can also type an asterisk in the Find/Replace box, it's just when editing files...

Has there been any update on this?

Re: New Install and Cannot type Asterisk [message #1091137 is a reply to message #1065593]

Wed, 21 August 2013 00:56

Eclipse User

I just found out what you need to do. You need to completely remove eclipse as in both program files and user directory. The only directory you should probably keep if the workspace. everything else needs to be removed. I also removed the metadata folder in workspace(removes plugins).
Then get eclipse again and put it in the directory you want. Add the exe to the start menu if you want and start it. The asterisk should work now.

[Updated on: Wed, 21 August 2013 00:57] by Moderator

Re: New Install and Cannot type Asterisk [message #1098247 is a reply to message #1091137]

Fri, 30 August 2013 16:57

Eclipse User

Hello, all. Came across this post from Google...

I had a similar issue with Kepler. I think it has to do with the shortcut key bindings. In the lower right when I would try to type in an asterisk, I would see the shortcuts for two different completions pop up.

I went into Window>Preferences>General>Keys and disabled the two bindings that started with shift+8 ( one of them was import...forget what the other was ).

After a restart the problem seems resolved.

Possibly a bug introduced in the shortcut code?

-Kevin

Re: New Install and Cannot type Asterisk [message #1123469 is a reply to message #1065593]

Wed, 02 October 2013 11:50

Eclipse User

Clearing the SHIFT+8 Key assignments and restarting worked for me.

Re: New Install and Cannot type Asterisk [message #1233539 is a reply to message #1065593]

Sun, 19 January 2014 18:38

Eclipse User

This does not work for mac. I wish there would be instructions on how to fix this in Mac.

Re: New Install and Cannot type Asterisk [message #1233829 is a reply to message #1233539]

Mon, 20 January 2014 10:35

Eclipse User

Does your Keys preference page show something bound with Shift+8?

Re: New Install and Cannot type Asterisk [message #1411450 is a reply to message #1233539]

Sat, 23 August 2014 06:50

Eclipse Guest

Messages: 93
Registered: February 2013
Location: Vienna

Member

Just look here, this should also work for Macs:

http://scn.sap.com/community/abap/eclipse/blog/2014/08/22/brackets-in-the-source-code

Re: New Install and Cannot type Asterisk [message #1835774 is a reply to message #1411450]

Fri, 11 December 2020 19:29

Eclipse User

Thank you for posting this article. I have had this problem for a few months and finally now I can use the *.

Previous Topic:	After using Eclipse Installer, how can I find the ReadMe file to peruse later?
Next Topic:	Cannot Create Java Virtual Machine: Unrecognized option: -Xincgc

Goto Forum:

-=] Back to Top [=-

Current Time: Sun Jul 27 11:43:44 EDT 2025

.:: Contact :: Home ::.

Breadcrumbs

Sign up to our Newsletter