Is InDesign disfuntional?

Have you tried starting your Mac in Safe Mode and seeing if InDesign runs any better? That's a quick way to tell if you have resource problems, either in general, or due to some specific background program.

It's also useful to see how it runs in normal mode if it's the first thing launched and no other programs are open while you use it.

iMac retina 21.5, 2017. InDesign Ver. 17.3.0.61

By @timl67630635

In 2017, the iMac 21.5" Retina shipped with 8GB RAM and either 2GB or 4GB of VRAM. It also used a traditional hard drive, not faster SSD drives, and had the Intel Core i5 processor. https://support.apple.com/kb/SP759?locale=en_US

That was at my low-end recommendation in 2017, and would never expect it to be able to handle either graphics-intensive large documents or today's operating system and software. It's an underpowered workstation for graphic design. Your system probably also has an underpowered interface for internet connections (RJ 45 LAN or Wifi), and today's version of InDesign is constantly accessing the internet while you work: cloud synching, cloud libraries, cloud fonts are fairly constant in the background.

FYI, the minimum specs noted by Adobe are a joke, IMHO and probably the others in this thread. We're all part of Adobe's beta testing community and have repeatedly advised Adobe to up the basic system requirements: https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/system-requirements.html   No one should attempt to run well at even the "recommended" specs listed by Adobe.

6 recommendations:

1. Shop for a new computer as soon as you can afford to. Use our shop's system recs below and whatever else my fellow geeks here recommend. They truly are the best of the best.
2. Roll back to the previous version of InDesign using your Creative Cloud manager app. It doesn't tap into so many system resources as 17 does.
3. Clean up your hard drive. Remove any old files no longer needed and create as much free room on the hard drive as possible.
4. Minimize the number of programs running at the same time. I know this is hard, but it will make a difference in your hardware's speed and capability.
5. Disconnect from the Internet. Shut down your browser when you're not needing it. And stop pinging your email every 5 minutes: it diverts your system resources from InDesign's use.
6. Deactivate any unused fonts. Whether you use a font or not, just having it available in the font drop-down menu eats a bit of your RAM, which you don't have enough to spare.

As a former systems integrator and Apple dealer, my shop's current recommendations are:

RAM:

• 32 GB RAM for beginners and light desktop publishing projects
• 64-126 GB RAM for advanced users and more intense projects

vRAM / Display Card

• 4 GB vRam for light graphics work
• 6 GB vRAM for medium work and one additional monitor
• 8 GB or more vRAM for heavier work or additional monitors

Hard  Drive

• An SSD drive, which is all digital and much faster.
• 1TB or as big as your wallet can afford.

Processor

• The biggest, fastest one you can afford. It will give you a longer usable lifespan.

Wondering what "the guys" here have to say!

Does the OP really want help with his InDesign issue or just wants a therapeutic rant!

I am grateful to the people in the community who take the time to help out here though I do bridle at the suggestion my computer is old (the issue of untimely PC obsolescene is another discussion). Infact it was bought late 2018 and it is within the spec. parameters given by Adobe all be it at the lower end. My point is that why am I here time and time again. I am aware of the checklist I go through to try and optimise InDesign. We’ve searched through the catalogue of problems online and suggested remedies yet things don’t get better. I am not a computer engineer I am a designer. I don’t want to spend half my time sorting through tech problems.

If InDesign were a car we would not except such performance.

Imagine.

I get up to go to work. Start the car, I go to make a coffee while it warms up for 15 minutes. I come out and the car has stopped. I go through the start procedure again, not leaving it on its own this time. I start my journey. After 10 miles it stops.

I call the garage mechanic.

“Have you checked the oil? Oh you are using the wrong oil. Drain the oil and fill it up with this other one.”

OK, on my way again. Another 10 miles it stops. I call the mechanic.

“Are you carrying any passengers?”

Yes.

“Oh you’ll have to ask them to get out. Yea I know it’s got seats but you know it effects performance if you got passengers.”

I proceed, doing about 10 miles an hour. 

Next day, same scenario. I might get 20 miles before it stops.

“Have you checked the coolant. You may need a different coolant. Have nice day.”

Next day, car stops after 15 miles.

“What you using your car for anyway?”

To get to work.

“Ahh you need to fit different tyres for that. Try these and you’ll be fine”

Next day. Not starting. Call mechanic.

“ Have you cleaned out the glove compartment?”

No. Why would I need to do that?

“Well its worth a try.”

Great. I’ll take it to the valet get it cleaned inside and out. Next day it takes three attempts to start the car. Take it to the garage.

“So you the one having all the trouble with your car. Let’s take a look. What’s with all the suitcases in the trunk.?

They’re my clothes.

“Mind if I take a look? – Hey look at that, nobody wears these postscript type clothes anymore, they’re so last year!. Oh boy there’s your problem. Get yourself some nice new opentype clothes. You’ll feel so much better. Your car will go better too.”

Thanks. I think I’ll walk.

Could you also tell about what kinds of files that you're creating with InDesign? For example are you perhaps creating files with a large number of huge Photoshop files that contain far more resolution than might be needed and/or Illustrator files that are of the maximum size of an Illustrator file (approximately 19 feet x 19 feet)? It's been my experience that good file management can go a long way toward efficient and faster use of InDesign.

You've told us practically nothing about your computer so there's no way to know if it's that or something else.

What operating system? What processor? How much RAM?

Certainly not dysfunctional, I've used InDesign since 2005 on both Windows and Mac and have never had the issue you're describing.

There's many things that could be an issue but I am not really sure what is wrong as the description you've provided is quite vague.

How much RAM, what processor, graphics card involved?

Any third party apps, virus protection, malware running???

Here's a few things you can try

Try resetting your preferences:
The easiest way to reset everything is to delete the InDesign preferences: as soon as InDesign starts to boot hold down Shift, Alt, Ctrl (and Apple/Cmd if working on a Macintosh). A dialog will appear asking to delete the InDesign Preferences, select 'Yes' on this dialog.
Further info and instructions here if needed:
https://helpx.adobe.com/in/indesign/kb/indesign-preferences-support-file-locations.html

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Try turning off the GPU Performance in the InDesign preferences.

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Reinstalling rarely fixes everything - you can do a complete reinstall using the
Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

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Rollback to a previous InDeisgn version

https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/using/install-previous-version.html#:~:text=Open%20the%20Creative%20Cloud%20desktop,down%20list%2C%20select%20Other%20Versions.

I can't even spell now. Disfunctional.