Using emojis while laptop is closed

[sherryp]

Can anyone help with this? I'm using a 2016 MacBook Pro with the touch bar. But it's hooked up to a monitor so I keep it closed while working at home and I use a Kinesis Freestyle for my keyboard. I tried to type an email today and wanted to insert an emoji but the old way of doing it (Show all fonts/gear/characters) no longer works. I also tried the control/command/spacebar approach after searching online for an answer and that doesn't work either. I also went into System Preferences/keyboard, etc. and that didn't work. Any ideas? I'm wondering if the only way to access emojis with this set-up is to have to open my laptop each time I want to type an emoji which would be a pain in the a**. Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[pigoo3]

Yes...using a MacBook Pro in "clamshell" mode does make access to the touch bar difficult.

Give this a try. Go to the "Edit" menu in the app you are using...and choose "Special Characters...". This should give you access to a bunch of emojis.

HTH,

- Nick

 

[sherryp]

There is no Special Characters in the mail menu

 

[pigoo3]

There is no Special Characters in the mail menu

What OS version is your MacBook Pro running?

If it's the latest version "Sierra" (10.12)...under the "Edit" drop-down menu in "Mail"...there is an "Emoji & Symbols" choice.

- Nick

 

[sherryp]

Correct, but when I click on it nothing happens.

 

[pigoo3]

Correct, but when I click on it nothing happens.

You need to have an email open that you're composing or replying to....when you select the "Emoji's & Symbol's" command from the 'Edit" drop down menu.

- Nick

 

[sherryp]

Yes, that's what I've been trying. I have an email open, the cursor is waiting for a character, I go to Menu/Edit/Emoji and Symbols, click on it and. . . .nothing.

 

[pigoo3]

Works fine on my end.

One thing I might suggest is quit all your apps...and reboot/restart the computer. Maybe this will help.

- Nick

 

[sherryp]

Well, that's weird. I did a restart and the emoji window opened, but when I went into mail to type a message it disappeared and won't come back. ??!!

 

[pigoo3]

Just to be sure...are you saying that after the restart...the emoji window did open once...and now won't come back? If so...I guess that's a little bit of progress.

My next suggestion is download, install, and run the free maintenance app called Onyx. Make sure you download the proper version of Onyx for the OS version you have installed. If you have Sierra (10.12) installed...download the version of Onyx for Sierra:

http://www.titanium.free.fr/onyx.html

After launching Onyx...click on the "Automation" button. Below you will see all the items that Onyx will do. Don't change any of the defaults. But one thing I would suggest is...check the box that says "Repair Permissions". I've noticed on newer versions of Onyx that this box is not checked by default.

Now click on the "Execute" button...and let Onyx do it's thing.

This may take a while...so be patient.

- Nick

 

[sherryp]

Yes, the window did appear so it's in the computer somewhere! Thanks for the thorough suggestion. . . .I think I'm going to wait on that one until my computer guy can come and do it. I'm a novice so I don't want to screw anything up. Thank you so much for all the advice.

 

[pm-r]

You may want to try changing the resolution for the external monitor as the "character viewer" window (it's the same thing as the "special characters" window) just may be off the edge with the current resolution setting.

Or just try disconnecting the external monitor and see if it doesn't show in the MBPro monitor screen at it's default resolution.






- Patrick
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[sherryp]

Thank you. . ..couldn't figure out how to do that. I think the problem is beyond that as now my Touch Bar isn't working either. Time to make an appointment at the Genius Bar. . . .

 

[pm-r]

I think the problem is beyond that as now my Touch Bar isn't working either.

You should be able to change the resolution using your System Prefs > Displays, or maybe even try checking with the external display disconnected.

As for your goofy/kaput Touch Bar, maybe have a look at some of the hits with a google search:
https://www.google.ca/search?client...&oe=UTF-8&gfe_rd=cr&ei=pFS8WPyiEO7e8AfN2qXICQ

Maybe something like this:
MacBook Pro touch bar emoji not working
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7766572?start=0&tstart=0

And/or maybe some like this might help:
MacBook Pro 2016 hardware problems: Keyboard not working
http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/ma...w-macbook-pro-2016-hardware-problems-3653458/






- Patrick
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[pm-r]

I think I'm going to wait on that one until my computer guy can come and do it.

I don't know if he ever arrived, but I'm an advocate for using and booting up in Safe Boot Mode when checking for problems, you might want to try doing and see if things work better. There may be some third party software conflict causing the problem which a safe boot should bypass.

Just press and hold the shift key just when you hear the startup chime from a cold shutdown boot, and follow the directions and login.






- Patrick
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