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The Mosho
Participant
March 5, 2025
Answered

Edit > Find/Change // Not working as I'd expect

  • March 5, 2025
  • 5 replies
  • 928 views

Hello there, I am trying to change [Black] in my document to a new swatch I created and normally, I'd go to Edit > Find/Change and do my thing. But this time, when I am searching for [Black] in my document, so I can change it, the dialogue box is finding pretty much every colour BUT the black in my document. 

 

Using the screen shot, you can see that what it found isn't [Black] but a completly different swatch in the document. 

 

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks! 

Correct answer The Mosho

First of all, thanks everyone who took the time to chime in. I really appriciate it. The problem for me came down to user error and preconceived expectations in how I should be searching for certain colours. 

Like what some of you have mentioned, it was the "used in" that was causing the confusion for me. I was looking for 100% [Black] and when I kept clicking Find Next, it was finding things like, "Paragraph Border: Stroke" which isn't actually orange - which is what I thought. 

 

In the end, I clicked "change all" and it did what I wanted and needed. 

 

Thanks again. This is outside how I normally use Id. 

 

Best, 

 

-G 

5 replies

Abhishek Rao
Community Manager
Abhishek RaoCommunity Manager
Community Manager
March 6, 2025

Hello @The Mosho, 

 

I hope the suggestions from the experts have helped you get to the bottom of this. If not, could you share the sample file (a packaged version) with us so that we can perform this test ourselves? If it is confidential, then you can share it via DM on the community. 

 

Looking forward to your update. 

 

^

Abhishek

T
The MoshoAuthorCorrect answer
Participant
March 6, 2025

First of all, thanks everyone who took the time to chime in. I really appriciate it. The problem for me came down to user error and preconceived expectations in how I should be searching for certain colours. 

Like what some of you have mentioned, it was the "used in" that was causing the confusion for me. I was looking for 100% [Black] and when I kept clicking Find Next, it was finding things like, "Paragraph Border: Stroke" which isn't actually orange - which is what I thought. 

 

In the end, I clicked "change all" and it did what I wanted and needed. 

 

Thanks again. This is outside how I normally use Id. 

 

Best, 

 

-G 

    Peter Spier
    Community Expert
    Peter SpierCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 6, 2025

    Well I think a few of us actually learned something new from this, so thanks for posting.

      tonks_the_auror
      Community Expert
      tonks_the_aurorCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 6, 2025

      I don't think I understand the problem.

      In your screenshot, I see "Find Color" = [Black] and "Change Color" = Document Black.

      So you are searching for [Black] and changing it to Document Black in text frames in your document. 

       

      My test: (MacBook Pro, OS 13.7.4 Ventura, InDesign 20.1)

      Find Color = [Black], Change Color = Red

      All of the text in my document was changed to Red

       

       

      Robert at ID-Tasker
      Robert at ID-Tasker
      Legend
      March 6, 2025

      @tonks_the_auror

       

      You've missed "stroke". 

       

      tonks_the_auror
      Community Expert
      tonks_the_aurorCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 6, 2025

      I used "change all" so it changed everything all at once. If I use "find next" it finds each element with [black] applied, one at a time, including "Used in Paragraph Border: Stroke"

        Robert at ID-Tasker
        Robert at ID-Tasker
        Legend
        March 5, 2025

        @The Mosho

         

        Stroke might be 0pt thick - but 99% is [Black] by default 😉 

         

        James Gifford—NitroPress
        James Gifford—NitroPress
        Legend
        March 5, 2025

        Many things get odd when you try to work with the various [default] styles and settings. I suspect this is a case where for whatever mysterious reasons, ID isn't seeing [Black] as, well, black.

         

        I do note that your search seems to be for a color named Black (no brackets); in a quick test, searching for default [Black] is a different selection.

         

        ETA: either my eyes or the screen shot changed - never mind on that last.

        Peter Spier
        Community Expert
        Peter SpierCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        March 5, 2025

        I'm thinking this has to do with where it says Used In Paragraph Border: Stroke but I don't see anything like that coming up on my system.

        What version of InDesign and OS are you using?

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