Skip to main content
Participating Frequently
August 30, 2022
Question

InDesign – selection tool and direct selection tool not allowing to move objects

  • August 30, 2022
  • 3 replies
  • 713 views

I have had this problem for a week or more, I've updated to InDD 17.4. 

I've deleted my InDesign preferences.

I've deleted my Google chrome extensions.

I've uninstalled and installed InDD via Creative Cloud

 

I can't move items on InDesign, I only can if I use the Direct Selection Tool, hover over the edge of text/image frame and wait for the diagonal line (/) to show up, and move only part of the box/shape.

 

Also when I click on image box and see the outside shape of the entire image (brown lines) my hand tool won't let me move the image.

 

Basically I'm designing with the keyboard arrow keys. I've been using InDesign since it superseeded Quark, so experienced. I've never seen anything like this before, my team of 10 at work can't help and haven't seen it either. I've read a lot on these forums but to no luck. Hoping someone knows if I've hit a keyboard command or another easy fix.  

This topic has been closed for replies.

3 replies

Mike Witherell
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 31, 2022

Did you export to IDML and re-open the IDML in order to Save-As to INDD to see if you can get out from under a file corruption?

Mike Witherell
lisaminiAuthor
Participating Frequently
August 31, 2022

Great idea. Tried, but unfortunately this is happeing across all of my InDD docs , not just this document. I tried however just in case, but it was unsuccessful.

Peter Spier
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 31, 2022

So, did you ever try clearing the caches or running the cleaner tool?

Are you using multiople monitors? Seen some weird stuff reported by users with two screens.

Mike Witherell
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 31, 2022

And the layer is not locked?
You checked about master page objects?
Is the object locked?

That preference that doesn't allow you to select a locked object, is it off?

Mike Witherell
lisaminiAuthor
Participating Frequently
August 31, 2022

Sorry forgot to mention that no layer / object not locked and it's not on a master page. Thank you Mike, but still no luck. 

Peter Spier
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 30, 2022

What is your OS?

Did you run the cleaner tool before reinstalling the program?

This type of problem can be caused by corrupt program caches. See Reset InDesign Preferences and Other Troubleshooting 

lisaminiAuthor
Participating Frequently
August 30, 2022

Thank you Mac OS is Monterey 12.5.1. 

I didn't run the cleaner tool. 

I'll look at the link you have given.