How do I stop it from overwriting text I already typed?

[Garren1013]

Another frustrating thing I can't figure out is that when I go back to insert a few extra words into a previous sentence, I start typing and it actually starts erasing what I already had as I type. It's like it's replacing what I already typed with the new stuff I'm typing. This sucks really really bad and is a terrible idea. Who invented these kinds of things for these programs?

[thomasjk]

At the bottom of the window click on OVR to switch to INS(Insert). Then save your document.

[acknak]

It's a standard feature of most software that accepts typed text, and an important function for anyone using a computer to understand. It's not something OOo dreamed up.

You can switch between insert typing mode and overwrite typing mode by pressing the keyboard key labeled "Ins" or "Insert". As I said, most software will support these two typing modes, and will use that key to switch between them.

The down side is that it's fairly easy to press that key by accident, and it can be difficult to tell which mode is currently active. OOo shows you which mode is active by (in some situations) changing the cursor from a thin bar to a thick block, and the label text in the status bar; you can also use the status bar to change the typing mode, as RoryOF thomasjk already pointed out.

[RoryOF]

@Acknak: it was Thomasjk pointed this out. Credit where credit is due! Should we recommend Computing 101?

[thomasjk]

+1

[acknak]

Oops--too many open threads for my feeble mush-mind

[Treluna]

I'm having a similar problem, except my program is already in the "insert" function when it is overriding my words.

Example:
while in the correct setting, Open Office is doing this:
If I had a sentence like this:
"He was a nice guy"

and I tried to add a word in the middle of the sentence, this is what it would look like.
"He was a nvery ice guy"

and the cursor is showing up in the middle of the letter when I try to fix things.

Does anyone know what i'm talking about and can anyone please, please help me??

[Hagar Delest]

Try to reset your OpenOffice user profile.

[Treluna]

Thanks for the help! Do you have that page for a Mac?

[acknak]

... Do you have that page for a Mac?

Look at the first post in that topic. There are no specific instructions for resetting the profile because it's just one step: rename the folder. OOo will create a fresh profile the next time it starts.

[hits00713]

Thanks for the update, I was looking for this.

But with that, I was also looking for the trick to Autoseletion when we move from one tab to next tab by pressing TAB key for erasing whole text in that tab as shown in attached below screenshot for your reference.

If anybody knows, then pls let me know,bcz I was using this in my old laptop but don't know how to enable it now...!!!!!!

[ZandaManz]

Hey, I have a recent fix I found that was causing my issue that may be able to help others that view this forum.
When NUM Lock is not on, I found that the "0" key toggles the typing mode between OVER to INSERT.
Hope this helps simplify your life if you read this!