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sndrmllr
Participating Frequently
May 28, 2025 11:18 AM UTC
Answered

Wandering text across columns when using decimals in line height or space after

A colleague was working on a calendar and when I checked I noticed something strange, the text was slowly wandering up a little by little with every column you go to the right. I created a new file to figure out what was wrong and te same thing happened. Anyone have an idea what is going on here, apparently you can only use whole points for vertically spacing text otherwise this happens?

Tried different Indesign versions 19.x and 20.x and fonts. The only thing that fixes it, is either using whole points for all values or create outlines, then the alignement is fixed.

 

I added an Indesign file with a generic font so you can replicate what happens.

Eugene TysonCorrect answer
Community Expert
May 28, 2025 1:10 PM UTC

I tested it with different settings

 

When create with tagged pdf is not selected the issue occurs

 

When i tick this option the problem is no longer there

 

 

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25 replies

Community Expert
LaubenderCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 28, 2025 3:55 PM UTC

Hi @sndrmllr ,

well, yes, it's a known bug with InDesign.

What's your exact version of InDesign and your operating system?

 

The issue was certainly discussed here in the forum some years ago.

 

At first glance it seems to be the bug described in the thread I linked to below; maybe there is the same root cause:

 

Text in tables not aligned after exporting to PDF
Laubender, Apr 28, 2025

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/text-in-tables-not-aligned-after-exporting-to-pdf/m-p/15293336#M622507

 

But your document is showing no InDesign table but more a "tabular" object, a text frame with 13 columns. The more columns, the more paragraphs are running through the text frame's columns, I think, the more the bug is visible.

Also for this kind of object the bug in PDF Export is known. I have to go back some years perhaps to find the relevant thread here in the InDesign forum. Ah, finally found the one from November 2021:

 

Problems with PDF Export in Indesign
maehrchen, Nov 05, 2021

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/problems-with-pdf-export-in-indesign/m-p/12501088#M451973

 

See my test files still available on Dropbox:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/problems-with-pdf-export-in-indesign/m-p/12501527#M452019

 

Discussed in English:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/problems-with-pdf-export-in-indesign/m-p/12501851#M452043

 

And indeed, the solution (the workaround) was to export to PDF with the option "Tagged Text" enabled.

 

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

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Dave Creamer of IDEAS
Community Expert
Dave Creamer of IDEASCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 28, 2025 3:58 PM UTC

>>>... the solution (the workaround) was to export to PDF with the option "Tagged Text" enabled.

Which, IMHO, should always be on unless there is a really good reason not to have it on.

 

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David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
Community Expert
LaubenderCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 28, 2025 4:09 PM UTC

Hi Dave,

indeed. Well, I can remember a bug with the Adobe World Ready Paragraph Composer, have to look up the details, where turning off "Tagged Text" was the solution. So sometimes you cannot escape situations…

 

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

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Dave Creamer of IDEAS
Community Expert
Dave Creamer of IDEASCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 28, 2025 1:26 PM UTC

I output it on my Mac as a PDF/X-1a with tagged on and off. Did not see any drifting. 

Can you upload a screen shot of the problem PDF just to be sure what we are looking for?

Also, what was the original font? Did you try it with your generic font?

 

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David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
sndrmllrAuthor
Participating Frequently
May 28, 2025 1:48 PM UTC

I just did the same. For me when I export a PNG, it looks like it looks in Indesign, and the PDF does not

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Community Expert
Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 28, 2025 1:54 PM UTC

I just used High Quality Setting only difference is the Create Tagged PDF setting  

 

Not Tagged

 

Tagged

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Mike Witherell
Community Expert
Mike WitherellCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 28, 2025 12:50 PM UTC

I tried your test file, and the output to PDF was perfect. I tested on Windows 11, InDesign 20.3.1.

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Mike Witherell
sndrmllrAuthor
Participating Frequently
May 28, 2025 12:58 PM UTC

So it seems it's a Mac issue..., too bad most designers in our office use Macs. I'll check with a PC colleague when I'm back in the office. Thanks for the info 🙂

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Community Expert
Eugene TysonCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
May 28, 2025 1:10 PM UTC

I tested it with different settings

 

When create with tagged pdf is not selected the issue occurs

 

When i tick this option the problem is no longer there

 

 

Translate
    BobLevine
    Community Expert
    BobLevineCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 28, 2025 12:38 PM UTC

    Someone else reported a similar problem a while ago. 

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      sndrmllrAuthor
      Participating Frequently
      May 28, 2025 12:52 PM UTC

      I searched before posting and didn't find anything, could you point me in the direction of their post? 

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      BobLevine
      Community Expert
      BobLevineCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 28, 2025 1:37 PM UTC
      No. I only remember it but I don't even remember if it was here.
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      Community Expert
      Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 28, 2025 11:51 AM UTC

      Looks fine when I open it. 

       

      What is supposed to happen and how do I trigger it?

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      sndrmllrAuthor
      Participating Frequently
      May 28, 2025 12:03 PM UTC

      Hi, I know it looks fine in Indesign, export as a PDF to see the issue.

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      Willi Adelberger
      Community Expert
      Willi AdelbergerCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 28, 2025 11:47 AM UTC

      I had no time to search the problem, but very important: NEVER outline any text in InDesign!

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      sndrmllrAuthor
      Participating Frequently
      May 28, 2025 12:09 PM UTC

      I'd rather not, but it seems Indesign is otherwise incapable of working with text across columns unless you use whole numbers, which is completely unacceptable for a professional layout program...

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