typing "a" in search window crashes program

[Massachusetts user]

I know this sounds like a bad parody of a bug report, but the problem is real and I cannot solve it.

I am running Bookends 10.4.3 under MacOS 10.5.6. When I have my (33.2 MB) database of references open, and want to search All Fields using the little window with the magnifying glass in the upper right corner -- placing the letter "a" (uppercase or lowercase) in that window reliably crashes Bookends. Some details:

1. No other character has that effect
2. Typing "a" in the same search window set to "author", "title" or anything other than "all fields" causes no problem
3. Typing "a" in "author" or "title" and then switching the window to "all fields" causes the crash too
4. The letter "a" itself causes no problems unless it is the only character in the window. This can only be tested by entering, say, "ab" in the search window when it is set to "author" and then switching to "all fields". No crash!
5. The crash itself is odd. The program just disappears, but without the usual message from the operating system that tells you the program quit unexpectedly. The program really is not running any more. Activity Monitor shows no sign of it.
6. I've tried repairing the database, and there seem to be no problems with it.
7. When I restart Bookends, it runs fine...until I try typing "a" in the search window!

[Jon]

Hi,

This is indeed odd. Did you try a File -> Database Maintenance -> Repair (not just a Rebuild)? Or a Rebuild (do NOT keep user settings)? If you have done both with no luck, please zip and send me the database.

Jon
Sonny Software

[Massachusetts user]

Unfortunately, neither repairing nor rebuilding without preserving user settings helped. I'm sending you the database as you suggested.