Skip to main content
B
bryanbroadcasting
Participant
January 8, 2019
Answered

Text disappears when changing text frame options (# of columns, other formatting)

  • January 8, 2019
  • 2 replies
  • 2297 views

I'm currently using Indesign CC14.0. I'm working on magazine layouts, and many of these layouts contain long lists / directories. Recently, I've begun experiencing disappearing text when I try to change certain text frame options. Let's say I start with a 2-column text frame - everything is fine and dandy, continues onto the next page / new 4-column text box on the next page just fine (screenshot attached). However, when I try to convert the first/original 2-column text box into a 4-column text box, all of my text disappears (including the text in the 2nd/4-column text box on the next page).

I click at the end of the the text that does remain in the original text box, hit delete, and it brings all of the text back in all text boxes...the only problem is now I have a piece of this list formatted incorrectly in correlation to the other directory entries/text.

I'm not sure what settings I may have wrong, but I've never experienced this before (been using Indesign for years now). Help please.

Original

Change 2-column to 4 column

Text disappears

Text reappears after pressing 'delete' after text still visible after converting to 4-column, incorrectly formatted now (I've tried pressing tab, enter - not numberpad enter, retyping the text, etc.)

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Willi Adelberger

    When a columns becomes more narrow than the length of a word, this word and the following text will disappear. Try to use hyphenation to break this word.

    Other reason could be a no-break character property, which causes text strings to be longer than the column width. Too long is too long.

    2 replies

    Willi Adelberger
    Community Expert
    Willi AdelbergerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    January 8, 2019

    When a columns becomes more narrow than the length of a word, this word and the following text will disappear. Try to use hyphenation to break this word.

    Other reason could be a no-break character property, which causes text strings to be longer than the column width. Too long is too long.

    B
    bryanbroadcastingAuthor
    Participant
    January 8, 2019

    I'll add, I've worked around the issue, but I really just want to know what the underlying issue is so I can avoid this mess in the future. Thanks in advance!

    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices