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Known Participant
Mar 30, 2022 2:26 PM UTC
Question

Indesign - Copy text from one document to another, text shifts in position (height) within text box.

Becoming increasingly frustrated with this.

Copy text box from a document and paste it into a new document, and the text will alter its position within the text box. I am assuming its a background format/preference interacting on the new document.

I have looked at the settings between documents for text frame options (baseline) and that isnt the solution. I have checked the indesign preferences have pasting text and tables all information is checked - but it doesn't change the outcome.

Have also checked it isn't reacting to a grid - and again the document settings seem the same - so no conflict there.

Does anyone have any idea of any other things to check?

14 replies

Participant
Sep 23, 2025 12:47 AM UTC

I'm having this same issue where the text will drop down when I copy a text box or a page with text on it. This happens within the same indd document. This only happens on my mac mini that I have at my office. It does not happen on my macbook pro that I use at home. The operating systems are the same and both are running the same version of InDesign. Is this a bug that has a fix for it? It's driving me a bit insane.

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rob day
Community Expert
Community Expert
Sep 23, 2025 2:52 PM UTC

Hi @optimistic_idealist0150 , The original post from 2022 was about cutting an pasting between documents—you might want to start a new thread or share the problem document. Also, since it is happening on a single computer, first try resetting your preferences and cashes.

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Participant
Jun 3, 2025 3:29 AM UTC

Do you still need the answer? I think I get the solution.

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Inspiring
Mar 31, 2022 2:24 PM UTC

I fight this everday in some form or fashon - wasn't always like this though.

 

I troubleshoot by turning on hidden characters, and observing hidden formatting that will throw off. Those hidden characters you don't see may carry chatacter settings that could be throwing off consistency. Check the end of sentences and especially paragraphs.

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Known Participant
Mar 31, 2022 4:29 PM UTC

@defaultl2dcn3pi5o8u 

Absolutely. For me Indesign has never been as flaky. And I have used it since the beginning.

 

I will have a look at any hidden characters, but again (and maybe it doesn't come across in my original description) I am copying a piece of text from one document to another - all I want is for it to be exactly as it was when I paste it in the new document - but it isn't.

 

Thanks for the reply.

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Legend
Mar 31, 2022 7:15 PM UTC

Even when you are not deliberately using styles, this can happen if you text was originally assigned [Basic Paragraph] when it was created, and the definition of [Basic Paragraph] is not the same between the two documents.

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jmlevy
Community Expert
Community Expert
Mar 31, 2022 1:51 PM UTC

If your text is aligned on the baseline grid and if the baseline grid increment is different in the 2 documents, the text will shift.

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Willi Adelberger
Community Expert
Community Expert
Mar 30, 2022 2:30 PM UTC

It can be caused by different paragraph style settings or different object settings, where the fisrt line starts, in the baseline section of the text frame options.

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Jumpenjax
Community Expert
Community Expert
Mar 30, 2022 4:23 PM UTC

As Willi Adelberger explained are my thoughts too. 

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Lee- Graphic Designer, Print Specialist, Photographer