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natalieb9807
natalieb9807
Participant
June 20, 2019
Question

CS6 pen tool not working properly

  • June 20, 2019
  • 4 replies
  • 1347 views

Hi,

Recently when I use the pen tool in InDesign it treats it as a shape and not a stroke. When I go to close the path it doesn't give me the little empty circe indicating that the path will close. Also when I click on the shape using the selection tool it frames it with a box as if it's a shape not a line. When I'm starting a new path it defaults to a no stroke or fill option.

I have reset my preferences and also cleared my cache. Is there another setting or preference that has been selected that i'm unaware of?

Thanks,

Natalie

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    4 replies

    Barb Binder
    Community Expert
    Barb BinderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 20, 2019

    Natalie:

    What operating system are you using?

    ~Barb

    ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
    Barb Binder
    Community Expert
    Barb BinderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 20, 2019

    And FWIW, I just booted up CS6 on an old Mac and I don't have the circle, either.

    ~Barb

    ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
    natalieb9807
    natalieb9807Author
    Participant
    June 21, 2019

    Barb - I'm using macOS Mojave version 10.14.5 with CS6 InDesign.

    Maybe this changed during a last update and I didn't realize it until now.

    J
    JeffreySmith
    Participating Frequently
    June 20, 2019

    Are you using the Pencil tool instead of the Pen tool?

    natalieb9807
    natalieb9807Author
    Participant
    June 20, 2019

    JeffreySmith, I'm not using the pencil tool, only the pen tool.

    Barb Binder
    Community Expert
    Barb BinderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 20, 2019

    Natalie:

    Are you accustomed to using the Pen tool in InDesign? It's a little different from Illustrator. Except for the missing circle, everything else sounds normal to me.

    ~Barb

    ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
    natalieb9807
    natalieb9807Author
    Participant
    June 20, 2019

    Yes I work in InDesign most of the time. This started happening recently and I'm not sure what changed about my InDesign CS6 version.

    winterm
    winterm
    Legend
    June 20, 2019

    OK. As Barb said, except missing circle (thank You, Barb, I missed that), everything else sounds normal.

    1. Does this happen in all documents, including brand new?

    2. What if you click with the Pen tool on the starting point with no circle? Does it close the path?

    3. Are you able to close the path using Pathfinder panel?

    winterm
    winterm
    Legend
    June 20, 2019

    Recently when I use the pen tool in InDesign it treats it as a shape and not a stroke.

    How do you know that?

    When I go to close the path it doesn't give me the little empty circe indicating that the path will close.

    Where you go? What circle? Usually we close open path by clicking an icon in Pathfinder panel. Would you mind a screenshot?

    Also when I click on the shape using the selection tool it frames it with a box as if it's a shape not a line.

    That's normal behavior of Selection tool. Try Direct Selection.

    When I'm starting a new path it defaults to a no stroke or fill option.

    Check your stroke/fill defaults with nothing selected.

    Barb Binder
    Community Expert
    Barb BinderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 20, 2019

    Winterm, InDesign shows a circle next to the Pen cursor when you return to the starting anchor point, indicating that you are about to close the path.

    ~Barb

    ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
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