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Overwrite mode should be optional

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Pardon my rant, but does anyone use this feature more than once a year? It'd sure be nice if it were optional (and turned off by default). Is it just me, or are you also fed up with accidentally whacking that Insert key and then playing with undo/redo until you find the exact spot where you turned on this “feature“? And what fun for a non-technical person using Word who accidentally puts himself in that mode...

A few years back, I physically tore off my CAPSLOCK key and threw it in the trash can. I'd had all I could take with that <vulgarLink>stupid key</vulgarLink>. But removing the Insert key isn't something I want to do. There are occasions when even I use overwrite mode, but they are few and far between.

Google searches for "turn off" "overwrite mode" "Microsoft Word" and the like haven't been very fruitful for me, so if you feel the way I do, and you've figured out a way to disable overwrite mode in Word, VS.NET or any other product, I'd love to hear from you.

Posted Dec 05 2005, 08:43 AM by keith-brown
Filed under: ,

Comments

Nicole Calinoiu wrote re: Overwrite mode should be optional
on 12-05-2005 9:29 AM
The key can be remapped to anything you'd prefer. If you don't feel like mucking about with the registry settings yourself, you might want to take a look at SharpKeys (http://www.randyrants.com/sharpkeys/).
Craig wrote re: Overwrite mode should be optional
on 12-05-2005 9:34 AM
I'd suggest the delete key - that's a fairly common typo for me.

And I'll be sure to make the feature toggleable if I ever finish writing my World's Greatest Text Editor Control. :)
Norman Diamond wrote re: Overwrite mode should be optional
on 12-05-2005 5:26 PM
I use the Caps Lock key sometimes. If coding calls to Win32 APIs that need data structures defined in PSDK headers than I might even use the Caps Lock key several times in one day.

The Insert key I could do without, with one exception. It seems I'm the only one who persuaded a version of Grub (no longer current though) to work properly with a Japanese keyboard. Since BIOS translation of scan codes doesn't cover enough keys, I had to abuse the scan code for the Insert key. No wait a minute, I STILL don't need the Insert key for that, I just need its scan code. Yeah I agree, let's rip that key off the keyboard.
Peter Provost wrote re: Overwrite mode should be optional
on 12-05-2005 7:52 PM
I typically disable the CAPSLOCK key entirely. I hate that damn thing. And I think the keyboard designers in the sky agree with you about the INS key, because on many new keyboards, they've moved it up as an F-LOCK key on the top row.
Paul Bartlett wrote re: Overwrite mode should be optional
on 12-06-2005 12:54 AM
I know Eclipse has an option to disable it buried somewhere, so it must be a fairly common need...
Chris Oldwood wrote re: Overwrite mode should be optional
on 12-06-2005 4:51 AM
I couldn't live without it, but them I'm probably one of the few wierd people who use SHIFT+DELETE, CTRL+INSERT and SHIFT+INSERT for Cut, Copy and Paste rather than the usual ^X ^C ^V keys.

I find it more natural to use these keys because when editing my hands are naturally close to the SHIFT, CONTROL and ARROW keys for selecting text/code before copying/pasting it.
Marcus Kellis wrote re: Overwrite mode should be optional
on 12-09-2005 10:47 AM
This blog entry is the first result for the Google query "disable overwrite word." The second has a solution: http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article08-105

Seems to work for me. Good luck.
Marcus Kellis wrote re: Overwrite mode should be optional
on 12-09-2005 10:49 AM
Also, you can still enable it by double-clicking "OVR" on the taskbar.
Keith Brown wrote re: Overwrite mode should be optional
on 12-09-2005 11:15 AM
Works like a charm, thanks for posting, Marcus.
Kim Wheeler wrote re: Overwrite mode should be optional
on 04-11-2006 2:23 PM
Thankyou so much for telling me about the insert key. I'm from England and I didn't even know the insert key had anything to do with overwrite, I just knew about the double clicking "OVR".
I now know how to disable overwrite when I'm entering info online. Y'ou have save dme alot of typing!
Matt Whittaker wrote re: Overwrite mode should be optional
on 05-29-2006 12:03 AM
Im from Eng;land too but i don't know how to undo ovr if im online1 please somone tell me! or ill go spare! i can do it on word clicking ovr nt he taskbar!
Jon Edwards wrote re: Overwrite mode should be optional
on 07-20-2006 4:25 PM
I've got the exact opposite problem in Word 2003 - overwrite is disabled, and the option to enable it is disabled too. The insert key and double-clicking on the 'OVR' indicator have no effect. But I want to use it!

Lisa wrote re: Overwrite mode should be optional
on 02-14-2007 10:01 PM
I just figured it out. If you are online, and you begin to overwrite, just hit the delete button then hit the insert button. It worked for me.
V wrote re: Overwrite mode should be optional
on 02-15-2007 4:35 PM
Thank you so much

For Delete and Insert.

it probably saved my 5 hours today.
MediaHound wrote re: Overwrite mode should be optional
on 02-23-2007 4:00 PM
Marcus you rock. Thanks for the link.
-- wrote re: Overwrite mode should be optional
on 07-09-2007 6:04 AM
thanks!! i've been locked in a struggle with my keyboard for what seems like forever.
Anna wrote re: Overwrite mode should be optional
on 07-31-2007 12:05 AM
Marcus you're a flipping legend!
jacko wrote re: Overwrite mode should be optional
on 08-10-2007 9:02 AM
shortcut is ctr+alt+insert
Ana wrote re: Overwrite mode should be optional
on 01-25-2008 1:55 PM
Hitting del the insert worked for me. Thank you Lisa. Thank you! You saved me from tons of frusturation. Overwrite drives me nuts.
Jonty Stern wrote re: Overwrite mode should be optional
on 02-13-2008 3:54 PM
Marcus, you are a GENIUS my friend! I did a version of that macro thing it suggested on your link and it seems to have burned away cAPS lOCK, the most pointless key on the computer. CHEERS!

Best wishes,

Jonty
Jayzaa wrote re: Overwrite mode should be optional
on 06-01-2008 2:30 AM
Go to Tools>Options. Select the Edit tab and check Typing replaces selection.
dave c wrote re: Overwrite mode should be optional
on 08-17-2008 9:56 PM

I never knew there was an overwrite mode until I read it in pc world, sept. 2008 issue.  After looking around the net I found this site and thank you  for writing about it.  I ,unlike many, will now be using it to my advantage.  thanks

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