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gaming_moments_-20895270
Participant
April 19, 2019
Question

Can't select multiple placed PDF's pages in InDesign

  • April 19, 2019
  • 2 replies
  • 1501 views

So I've been trying to do this since last night - at first I thought that my shift key isn't working and the only answers I found were that it might be an inter-software conflict, but I tested the shift, ctrl, and the click+drag option in the same document today and it doesn't work with the pdf I imported into InDesign but it does work with objects created inside InDesign itself.

Essentially, this is my problem: I placed 5 PDF pages created in adobe illustrator, in adobe indesign. I cannot shift-click each one to select multiple, even though I can shift-click objects created inside InDesign itself and they get selected.

I've been messing around in the preferences with no results, so I'm guessing there's some sort of problem with the imported PDF's themselves. You might say "5 pages man? c'mon, just do each separately" but there's another 80 page document incoming and I'd like to know how to prevent these headaches when that happens .

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    2 replies

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    gaming_moments_-20895270Author
    Participant
    April 19, 2019

    You can't?...

    They are on different spreads, but that never occured to me. I thought it's possible to do so. Is there any way I could globally edit elements on multiple pages then?

    winterm
    winterm
    Legend
    April 19, 2019

    Nope, you can't, and it was never possible. What you can do, highly depends on what you're after. I doubt you can do much with imported pdf's in InDesign.

    Usually we use styles, or Find/Change function capabilities (they are powerful, indeed). Sometimes scripts may help a lot.

    I guess you need to re-think your workflow, whatever it is now.

    EDIT:

    regarding your imported pdf content you should edit it in Illy, and then update link(s) in InDesign. BTW, there's no need/requirement for pdf, feel free to place ai files directly. Just save them in Illy as pdf compatible.

    winterm
    winterm
    Legend
    April 19, 2019

    First things first. You didn't mention if your pdf pages are placed on the same ID page/spread. You can't select things from different spreads simultaneously, no way. That's not a bug, just a core 'feature'.

    Or they are part of a group, then you won't be able to select them all five using Shift, either (well, without using Direct Selection tool, to be precise).

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