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Can't select objects or edit text on newly inserted page

Community Beginner ,
Aug 06, 2012 Aug 06, 2012

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Hello -

I'm very new to InDesign and have some beginner-level experience with other Adobe products (Illustrator and Photoshop). I am using this annual report template to create a document. I can load the file in CS6 and edit existing text with no issues. However, when I add additional pages by going to Layout -> Pages -> Insert Pages, all of the text and objects on the newly inserted page are locked and I can't edit anything. The "unlock all on spread" option under "Objects" is grayed out, I changed my general preferences to allow selection of locked objects, I checked to make sure none of the layers are locked, and I don't see an unlock icon anywhere when I hover over the upper left of any individual text box (all solutions I found in other threads when I googled this).

Not sure if maybe this is just a limitation of working with a template (in general or specifically this one), that they don't actually let you add new pages and you have to work with the existing ones? Any pointers (in amateur-speak) would be appreciated.

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correct answers 1 Correct answer

Community Expert , Aug 07, 2012 Aug 07, 2012

Master pages that are based on other masters will have a letter icon on them to indicate the master they're based on, just like document pages.

Master objects can be overridden on the document page by holding the Cmd (Mac) or Ctrl (Windows) + Shift keys and clicking on them with the selection tool.

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Community Beginner ,
Aug 07, 2012 Aug 07, 2012

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Update - figured out how to view the master pages themselves, hoping that maybe that was the source of this issue and it was propogating to the new pages - and everything on those is also locked - "unlock all on spread" is still grayed out, but none of the layers are locked so I'm still at a loss.

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Community Expert ,
Aug 07, 2012 Aug 07, 2012

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Do you have masters based on masters? If so, you need to go to the parent master page.

Bob

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Community Beginner ,
Aug 07, 2012 Aug 07, 2012

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Not sure - I have six different masters labeled A-F and the items on all of them are locked. This is looking under the "pages" menu on the right side of the screen. Is there someone else I would go to see if I have more masters?

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Community Expert ,
Aug 07, 2012 Aug 07, 2012

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No.

Bob

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Community Expert ,
Aug 07, 2012 Aug 07, 2012

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Master pages that are based on other masters will have a letter icon on them to indicate the master they're based on, just like document pages.

Master objects can be overridden on the document page by holding the Cmd (Mac) or Ctrl (Windows) + Shift keys and clicking on them with the selection tool.

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Community Beginner ,
Jul 25, 2013 Jul 25, 2013

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Just want to leave a note that this thread is still helpful. Found it from Google today; Peter Spier's response solved an issue that has been plauging me for weeks.

Thanks all!

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New Here ,
Nov 30, 2016 Nov 30, 2016

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OMG! I was looking all over the web for this function.

THANK YOU ^__^

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New Here ,
Feb 24, 2018 Feb 24, 2018

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thank you!!! after trying for an hour you arrayed the light I was looking for!

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New Here ,
May 21, 2019 May 21, 2019

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You are a legend!

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New Here ,
Jul 10, 2020 Jul 10, 2020

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^Saved me

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New Here ,
Dec 02, 2021 Dec 02, 2021

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Still relevant in 2021 December. Thank you Spier

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New Here ,
Sep 22, 2015 Sep 22, 2015

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Tried this:

Master objects can be overridden on the document page by holding the Cmd (Mac) or Ctrl (Windows) + Shift keys and clicking on them with the selection tool.

And it worked for me.

Thanks Peter Spier@

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Community Beginner ,
Mar 01, 2017 Mar 01, 2017

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Thank you SO much for this answer.

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New Here ,
Dec 05, 2017 Dec 05, 2017

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Saved machine from flying out the window. Thank you for this!

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New Here ,
Dec 30, 2019 Dec 30, 2019

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Amazing! Had trouble with this for weeks!

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Mentor ,
Mar 01, 2017 Mar 01, 2017

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Newbies are so funny

Remember, never say you can't do something in InDesign, it's always just a question of finding the right workaround to get the job done. © David Blatner

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Community Beginner ,
Mar 05, 2018 Mar 05, 2018

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Can you tell me why I cannot select items on an InDesign CC page when there are NO Master pages, AND, the items on the page are not "locked"?

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Community Expert ,
Mar 05, 2018 Mar 05, 2018

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Hi Sally,

the whole layer might be locked.
Just check the Layers panel.

Regards,
Uwe

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Community Beginner ,
Mar 05, 2018 Mar 05, 2018

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Uwe, Thank you very much!  That was it!

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New Here ,
Mar 14, 2022 Mar 14, 2022

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LATEST

Brilliant.  I've spent that last 3 hours trying to work this out.  Thanks a load.

 

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New Here ,
Dec 30, 2019 Dec 30, 2019

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Amazing! finally a solution. Ive been in trouble with this for weeks!

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