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Question

Can't edit text on older document in Indesign

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
March 12, 2022
4 replies
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Hello, I am trying to make some small edits to a 4-page brochure created in Indesign. The brochure was created a few years ago by a different staff member who is no longer around. I have enough knowledge of InDesign to get by but do not understand why I can't edit the text in the document. I assume it was created as a normal text box (it looks like normal body text). However, now when I am trying to edit it, the text looks like it is an object and I can't make any simple edits. The whole block of text was grouped. Once ungrouped, each line of text became its own object and there is an option to release compound paths in the properties panel when I select a line of text. Any advice on how to move forward?

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MPA-4-Pager-updated_5-18-2019.zip

How to

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Brad @ Roaring Mouse

Community Expert

I would check where the files weres stored by your old staff member. It's probable that a "working" version exists that hasn't had the type outlined.

The Links in the file provide a clue to the path where the files were: (I asterisked the name of the user for privacy)

/Users/**********/Dropbox (MPA Collaborative)/MPA Collaborative Team Folder/Communications/CN Brochures/

BobLevine

Community Expert

You're a bit more optimistic than I am. I would have said "possible" not "probable."

L

Laubender

Community Expert

Hi Nicole,

you could save some time with typing the outlined text if you export the InDesign spreads to JPEG with high resolution, perhaps 600 ppi. Open the JPEG spreads with Acrobat Pro and go to "Edit PDF". Acrobat will try to do some OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the JPEG and you could copy/paste the results to InDesign:

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

Willi Adelberger

Community Expert

THe text was outlined (converted to curves/paths), text line by text line. It is no longer text as you can see in the layer panel.

I agree, it was probably created in Illustrator and copy and pasted from there to InDesign.

Outlining text to paths should never be done in InDesign. There are many reasons why. Avoid it!

You have to write the text again.

I would also check the whole document as it is made for the trash:

As mentione, the outline text is a no go-go
THe upper end of the background ends with the page, but it should extend to the bleed allowance.
There is only one generic layer. It is important to work with layers and name them correctly.
The logo graphics are PNG and JPG files. This should not be done in a print file. Do not use PNG for print, do not use JPG for logos. Use vector graphics for logos: PDF/X-4 or AI, no EPS.
Use master and rename them properly. Do not use generic names here.
Create new paragraph styles. The old one are chaotic, have no correct dependeny between them. They are also based on T1 fonts which should not be used anymore.

Willi Adelberger

Community Expert

FYI: This document was first created in 2016 with InDesign CS4 (Version 6.0). Make the document new again.

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

I suspect this was a PDF that was converted to InDesign with a third-party utility--or the PDF was opened in Illustrator and pasted into InDesign. Either way, you will need to redo the text.

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

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