Conflict palettes not working: can trigger the main palette, but not the conflict palette

KBM 9.05, Catalina 10.15.5

My conflict palettes are no longer working.

I can trigger palettes, but when I type the trigger for the conflict palette (example: type letter x), the conflict palette flashes on the screen for a split second.

There is another intermittent issue: unbeknowst to me, a palette is active but not visible. When I start typing the palette macros are triggered, and I have to cancel all macros.