All layers not available on all pages

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
November 21, 2023
4 replies
1848 views

When I click on a specific page in my 10 page document I get a specific arrangement of layers. When I click on another page, the arangement is different. I get a whole new set of layers for the entire document. This is what happens on each page-- different page, different arrangement of layers. Each page is giving me a whole new menu of layers. Click on a page- all layers change. I can't organize my content b/c the changes I make to layers while working one page do not hold when I click to another page.

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Correct answer rob day

Thanks Rob.

I'm used to Pshop where I can just rearrange and rename layers at anytime and all layers and objects are always visible. (Evidently here I have 2 different pages, each with a layer called Logos, whereas I was thinking there was one and it would always be visible no matter what page was selected.) Honestly, I didnt know each page would have its own set of items and the layers menu would change according to the page selected. I think I need some instruction on the proper way to percieve and work with layers in ID. Thanks again!

Photoshop doesn't have a page object, the document is always a single page. There are layer groups for organizing layers, which look like the page items list you get when you toggle open an InDesign Layer, but Photoshop layer groups and InDesign page items are not conceptually related.

Mike Witherell

Community Expert

Layers transcend all pages. Objects will tend to be unique to each page.

Mike Witherell

Antelope FreewayAuthor

Inspiring

"Layers transcend all pages. Objects will tend to be unique to each page."

Yes, I think there is something like that said in the Bhagavad Gita.

Just kidding! Thanks Mike, you guys on this forum are a great help!

Bill Silbert

Community Expert

Could you supply screen shots of what is happening to the layers panel on the different pages? It would be easier to diagnose the issue with visuals. Also what operating system and what version of InDesign are you using?

Antelope FreewayAuthor

Inspiring

Thanks for your help!

I was using ID v. 18.5.1. After this problem began I updated to version 19.0.1 InDesign on CC. I get the same results.

I'm on Win 10 and I work with all my CC apps with reliable performance, till this.

Attached are 2 screenshots of the same ID file. Notice how when one page with an items is selected shows the layer called Logos with a specific set of items in the column. Then when a different page is selected it designates the same layer called Logos with a different set of items in the column list.

Steve Werner

Community Expert

The layers are working fine. As I tried to explain before, the items below your layer "Logos" is a list of objects (not layers) on that layer on that particular page. So of course they would be different on each page.

That is normal behavior in InDesign.

Steve Werner

Community Expert

If for some reason, you really do have what you described and it only happens in this one document, there could be some corruption. You might solve this by saving it as IDML: File > Save As > InDesign CS4 or Later [IDML]. Then open the IDML in InDesign to see if has removed the corruption.

Antelope FreewayAuthor

Inspiring

Steve Werner

Community Expert

Show us screen captures of some of your pages with Layers showing.

I've been teaching InDesign classes since the program first came out, and InDesign uses the same layers on all pages and spreads as shown in my examples below. Perhaps, you're confusing that fact that what's under the layer name are objects on that particular page (they are not layers):