Can no longer highlight text in Indesign

[beatricep34560941]

I seem to have lost the ability to highlight text by double/triple clicking. When I click in a text box,it flips over to the mover tool, and I find myself moving the text box around - what I want to do is edit the text! I've reinstalled the software (Adobe CC 14.0.2), deleting preferences as I did it, but it still the same. Anybody recognise this problem?

[Bill Silbert]

Is it happening on all documents or just a specific one? What operating system are you using?

In addition to trashing preferences, as you've already done, you could try deleting your InDesign cache files. Usually this is helpful for interface issues but it is certainly worth a try.

To do so:

For Macintosh Users: The User Library folder in which InDesign’s cache files are stored is hidden by default on most Macintoshes. To access it make sure that InDesign is closed and click on the desktop to launch a Finder Window (Command-N). With this window in column view follow the path User>Home folder (it’s the folder with an icon that looks like a house—it may have the user’s name rather than “Home”) and click on the Home folder. With the Option Key pressed choose Library from the Finder Go Menu. “Library” will now appear within the Home folder. Within the Library folder find the “Caches” folder. Within the Caches folder find and delete the entire folder “Adobe InDesign”. I find that deleting the InDesign cache folder completely leads to a lasting change. 

For Windows Users: On Windows 7 and above the caches files are hidden. To find them go to the Control Panel and open Folder Options and then click the View tab. Then select “Show hidden files and folders” or “Show hidden files, folders or drive options” in Advanced Settings. Then delete (or rename) the folder at the end of this path: C:\Users\[User Name]\AppData\Local\Adobe\InDesign\Version [#]\<Language>\Cache.

[beatricep34560941]

Hi there Bill, thanks for that advice - I've trashed the InDesign cache folder, but the problem is still there. This problem is happening in all documents. I'm using Mac Mojave (10.14.2).

[winterm]

Check your mouse settings - they may get somewhat disordered.

[beatricep34560941]

I'm working with a trackpad. It works OK in other applications, i.e. I double-click and the word is highlighted. When I do it in Indesign, the cursor quites the text and the whole frame is selected.

[beatricep34560941]

Now I notice another problem: I can't unlock guides! This is really frustrating - I've reinstalled the software, but it makes no difference!

[beatricep34560941]

Sorry, I was wrong about that - I'd forgotten I'd put the guides in a page template.

[beatricep34560941]

There's something really weird about this - I can't create new text or image frames. Help!!!

[Bill Silbert]

I know that you said that you had already trashed preferences but you did not say just how you had done so. Below are instructions that will make absolutely sure that your old preferences have been deleted and (when InDesign is relaunched) that a brand new preference file will be created.

To do so on a Mac:

The User Library folder in which InDesign’s preferences are stored is hidden by default on most Macintoshes. To access it make sure that InDesign is closed and click on the desktop to launch a Finder Window (Command-N). With this window in column view follow the path User>Home folder (it’s the folder with an icon that looks like a house—it may have the user’s name rather than “Home”) and click on the Home folder. With the Option Key pressed choose Library from the Finder Go Menu. “Library” will now appear within the Home folder. Within the Library folder find the folder called Preferences and within it find the folder called “Adobe InDesign” and the file called “com.adobe.InDesign.plist” and delete both that folder and that file. When InDesign is next launched it will create new preference files and the program will be restored to its defaults.

The advantage of manually deleting preference files in this manner is that after you’ve reset up the program (make sure that no document window is open) to your liking, you can create copies of your personalized “mint” preference files (make sure that you quit the program before copying them—that finalizes your customization) and use them in the future to replace any corrupt versions you may need to delete.

[beatricep34560941 · Accepted solution]

Thanks again Bill. I stumbled across the answer eventually - it was simply that the computer was running out of RAM. I closed a few windows and everything started working normally again! Sorry to waste people's time!