P3Dv4 atc options get selected when I try to open panels

[doc289456 0]

I tried posting this on the Lockheed Martin forums but I'm still waiting for a reply. 

Whenever I open panels with the shift-1, 2,3,4 etc. the corresponding number in the atc window gets selected. 
Ie.
With ATC window open
Press shift-1 to open panel - option 1 in atc window will get selected
Press shift-2 to open panel - option 2 in atc window will get selected
Press shift-3 to open panel - option 3 in atc window will get selected
Etc.

This is frustrating me no end. Doesn't matter which aircraft I use. Happens all the time. The only time it doesn't is if I undock atc, but this is no good as doing this halves my fps. 

I have to make sure I close ATC window before trying to open any panel. And this is no longer easy as there is no longer an x on the ATC window. 

I have p3d4. I never had this problem with p3d2.5.

[doc289456 0]

Does anyone have any answers for this problem