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susan taitp30706295
susan taitp30706295
Participant
May 19, 2022
Answered

Selection tool changes to text tool

  • May 19, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 2278 views

this just happened: i copied some text into a document. when i grabbed the selection tool to move the text, the tool changed to the text tool and gave me a cursor. i try moving the box of text around and keeps jumping to the text tool. this just started happening this week after Indesign CC updated as of May 2022. i've reset preferences already. thanks! Sue

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Correct answer Willi Adelberger

Try to grap the frame, not the text. The described behaviour is so as it should be since many versions.

2 replies

Willi Adelberger
Community Expert
Willi AdelbergerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
May 19, 2022

Try to grap the frame, not the text. The described behaviour is so as it should be since many versions.

susan taitp30706295
susan taitp30706295Author
Participant
May 19, 2022

i did and it works, but historically i've always been able to select any part of the text box with the selection tool and move the box around. thanks!

A
Adriana5C4F
Participant
December 11, 2023

Not sure if you will see this since you had this question over a year ago, but I'm hoping you do and that you found a solution since I'm suddently having the same issue you stated. The selection tool seems to automatically switch to text without me choosing it to and it's driving me bonkers. Even grouped objects are acting up unless I specifically grab the group by the frame.  Thanks for any input, even if it's still driving you mad, lol. 🙂

    Randy Hagan
    Community Expert
    Randy HaganCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 19, 2022

    I'm not looking over your shoulder to be sure, but I suspect you're first clicking on the text frame to select it, then quickly clicking again to select/move the text frame.

     

    It's maddening, but it's normal behaviour for InDesign. Double-clicking inside a text frame causes the tool transformation you describe to easily edit/transform type inside the text frame. If you click once to select the frame, wait just a beat to "clear" the chance of double-clicking, then hold down the mouse button to move the text frame I suspect you'll be able to move the text frame with your Arrow/Selection tool like you'd otherwise expect.

     

    Hope this helps,

     

    Randy

    susan taitp30706295
    susan taitp30706295Author
    Participant
    May 19, 2022

    hi Randy

    i'm grabbing the selection tool first then the text box. it might let me drag the box all over the page then will suddenly switch to the type tool. i'm at work right now with an older version of Indesign and its not happening here. .i will try your suggestion when i get home, though. thanks!

     

      Randy Hagan
      Community Expert
      Randy HaganCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 19, 2022

      That's right. When you click the mouse button down twice, it reads the transformation of "double-clicking" when you release the mouse. It's not the time between the second button stroke down and up that causes the issue; it's the time between the first cycle and the start of the second. Either waiting a beat as I suggested, or taking Willi's suggestion below, will get you past your problem.

       

      I can't remember when InDesign CC first incorporated this feature. It was some time ago, but it has been around for quite a while. Lots of folks complained when it first was implemented, but if you can condition yourself to the discipline and use it to full advantage it'll speed your workflow dramatically.

       

      Hope this helps,

       

      Randy

       

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