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YZEP
Participant
September 11, 2024
Answered

Unable to Drag Objects with Selection Tool in InDesign

  • September 11, 2024
  • 3 replies
  • 1895 views

Hoping someone can help me - have searched the forums to no avail.

 

I was using inDesign with no issues when suddenly I could no longer select and drag objects with the mouse when using the selection tool. However I can select and drag objects with the freeform tool. When I mouse over the object with the selection tool a circle appears in the middle.

 

I have tried moving a newly created object in a new blank document and still have the same issue. I have reset preferences and even uninstalled and reinstalled inDesign. I am currently running the latest build 19.5 I also deleted all plug ins from Chrome as some people have suggested.

 

Any ideas would be welcome as it really has messed with my workflow. Thanks!

 

<Title renamed by MOD>

Correct answer YZEP

Thanks. I had done a clean install with reset preferences and also a blank document to ensure that there wasn't any corrupt data in the document. Oddly today it just started working again... no idea what the issue was. I noticed someone had posted about the same problem and it just started working again for them too for no apparent reason.

3 replies

Mike Witherell
Community Expert
Mike WitherellCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 11, 2024

The circle icon in the center of a graphics frame is the Content Grabber icon. I would investigate locked layers, too. Make sure which page you are on. Outside of that, here is some exhaustive troubleshooting guidance. You *might* need to reset prefs in a thorough sort of way.

Mike Witherell
Peter Spier
Community Expert
Peter SpierCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 11, 2024

I could swear I read that you can turn off the content grabber, but darned if I can find where...

Peter Spier
Community Expert
Peter SpierCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 11, 2024

OK

I found it. It's under View > Extras...

Derek Cross
Community Expert
Derek CrossCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 11, 2024

Check in the Layers panel that you haven't locked an element.

Anshul_Saini
Community Manager
Anshul_SainiCommunity Manager
Community Manager
September 11, 2024

Hi @YZEP,

 

It sounds like a frustrating issue! To help troubleshoot further, could you let me know if you’re using any desktop or window management apps that might be interfering with InDesign? Additionally, you could try running InDesign under Safe Mode (Windows / macOS) to see if the problem persists. This can help identify if other software or settings are causing the issue. Let me know how it goes!

 

Best,

Anshul Saini

    Y
    YZEPAuthor
    Participant
    September 12, 2024

    Oddly today it just started working normally again. Saw someone else had posted the exact same problem with 19.5 and they too have no idea why it just started working normally again.

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