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

[hahvahdsquah2]

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.

[hahvahdsquah2]

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.

[BobLevine]

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

Bob

[hahvahdsquah2]

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?

[BobLevine]

No.

Bob

[Peter Spier · Accepted solution]

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.

[Garrett_WIN]

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!

[lebasy larroc]

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

THANK YOU ^__^

[susamomo]

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

[MAK78647]

You are a legend!

[InRealLife]

^Saved me

[conniey_mnani]

Still relevant in 2021 December. Thank you Spier

[janices90916520]

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@

[mary4uk]

Thank you SO much for this answer.

[Jayshu]

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

[gastonmichelotti]

Amazing! Had trouble with this for weeks!

[Geоrge]

Newbies are so funny

[Sally Robison]

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"?

[Laubender]

Hi Sally,

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

Regards,
Uwe

[Sally Robison]

Uwe, Thank you very much!  That was it!

[Kylie2358907204te]

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

[gastonmichelotti]

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

[christ26342039]

Alternative solution: I have been pulling my hair out with this. Checked all master pages, layer orders and my solution was nothing to do with those.

Text on certain spreads was not selectable because these spreads had HIDDEN spreads before and after them.

I turned all pages to visable and now I can select text on these pages!!

What a stupid glitch.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@christ26342039

Yes, someone mentioned this buggy behavior before.