Confusion Over Cancel vs. Don't Save Options in InDesign Dialogs

[Lorand5CFA]

The change in this Indesign dialog layout can cause a lot of trouble... and it's completely useless!

<Title renamed by MOD>

[Steve Werner · Accepted solution]

Your complaint/suggestion won't be read buy the proper people (product managers and engineers) here.

Post it in the InDesign User Voice where others can vote for it:

https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601021-adobe-indesign-feature-requests

[leo.r]

Yes, I agree totally. I posted about this on prerelease forums when I discovered this change not too long ago. Those who came up with this change have probably felt an urge to adhere to some kind of imaginary standard.

[Barb Binder]

Ooof. Thank you for pointing this out. I'm the sort of person who relies on muscle memory and doesn't necessarily read the prompts as closely as I should. If you decide to post a feature request as per @Steve Werner's suggestion, please come back and put the link here so that others will see it and can vote for it. 

~Barb

[Lorand5CFA]

Here it is: https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601021-adobe-indesign-feature-requests/suggestions/48965648-ca... 

[leo.r]

I'm the sort of person who relies on muscle memory

By Barb Binder

Yes, that's exactly what I wrote on the prerelease forum: years of muscle memory now go down the drain.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

It's a little different on Windows (Yes, No, Cancel) but I think it works on Mac too. 

Mac: type D for Don't Save, Esc for Cancel (you can try C), and S or return for Save.

Windows: Y for Yes, N for No, Esc for Cancel.

I don't have to worry about where I click...

[HD Schellnack]

Got the same effect, thankfully it has not led to data loss so far, but this is not good UX at all. There was a reason why these two buttons were apart. 

[leo.r]

Mac: type D for Don't Save, Esc for Cancel (you can try C), and S or return for Save.

By Dave Creamer of IDEAS

ha i never knew about the D shortcut (only Cmd-D). live and learn. thanks Dave.

[Atapp]

I don't have to worry about where I click...

I'm more worried about what I type since I noticed that Command+S in this dialog means DO NOT SAVE.

So the general shortcut for Save in MacOS will in this particular dialog result in the opposite.

InDesign even informs me that Command+S = Save in the menu. Just not here…

[leo.r]

I can't reproduce it. All shortcuts work for me as expected in the dialog. what's your macOS version, just in case?

[Atapp]

Latest of everything and using Swedish language.
MacOS 15.1 

InDesign 20.0

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

First--I was referring to the English-language dialog. Your mileage may vary in other languages. 

Second--I did not say "Command-S", I said "S". 

[Atapp]

Yes, I saw that you said 'S'. My point was (or should have been) that Command-S should be the shortcut key to save something. Not the opposite. Going against all system rules in one single instance.

I could even accept that both S and Command-S resulted in save here. But it's unaccepatable that if someone hits Command-S as a reflex to save now destroyes all their work. It's worse than an application crash since the crash actually will be restored.

Save and Spara (Swedish) both starts with an S so we've had the same shortcut in both languages since Macs was invented. Command-S in the same type of dialog window with Apple Pages means Save. 'S' does nothing.

[leo.r]

If Cmd-S in the dialog does indeed invoke the "Don't Save" button, then I agree that it sounds like a bug in some international InDesign versions. You can report it here:

https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601180-adobe-indesign-bugs

Although I'm not surprised it went unnoticed. I don't think it's a common practice to use Cmd-S in this particular dialog when you can just hit return. But regardless, Cmd-S should never invoke "Don't Save".

I wonder if Cmd-D works as expected for you, that is invokes "Don't Save"? I'm not sure how these shortcuts work on non-English systems. 

[Atapp]

Thanks, I'll report it.

'D' or Command-D does nothing when I try that.

Command-period cancels.

[Laubender]

Hi @Lorand5CFA ,

thanks for the UserVoice entry. I voted…

Thanks,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[Barb Binder]

Me too.

~Barb

[leo.r]

voted too.

[cyclopsdx]

I knew something felt off when using InDesign 2025 - Adobe have switched the Cancel and Don't Save buttons around!

WHY, Adobe, WHY?!!!!? Why would you change an integral part of our workflow that we have spent years adapting our muscle memory to? What is the point in that?

InDesign 2024

InDesign 2024

InDesign 2025

InDesign 2025

2025 gets worse every time I open it. Please change it back to what we're familiar with. there is absolutely no point in making these types of changes.

[leo.r]

Yes, the outrage caused by this change is widespread.

Fun fact: Not a single InDesign user asked to switch the position of these buttons, ever.

There's an earlier thread regarding this issue, as well as a bug request; I'll post links soon once I find them.

EDIT: This response was written before the new thread was merged with this one.

[ID-4253441]"Don't Save" and "Cancel" Positions are reversed in InDesign 20.0 – Adobe InDesign

[mikejasinski]

Why were the "cancel" and "don't save" buttons swapped for Adobe '25 products? Why was this switch made? Makes no sence. I am having to unlearn 25+ years of muscle behavior. Why Why Why! 

 

 

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @mikejasinski,

I understand your frustration with the swapped "cancel" and "don't save" buttons in the Adobe '25 products. Changes like this can disrupt long-standing habits, especially after 25 years of muscle memory. Your feedback is invaluable, and it’s important for us to know how these updates impact your workflow.

We encourage you to share your thoughts on this change through UserVoice, where you can provide specific feedback and suggestions. This way, we can prioritize your concerns and work towards improving the user experience. You can submit your feedback here: [UserVoice Link](https://adobe.ly/3BVuK0V).

Thank you for your understanding, and if there's anything else I can assist you with, please let me know!

Best,  
Abhishek Rao

[leo.r]

Here's another discussion on the subject:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/confusion-over-cancel-vs-don-t-save-options-in-i...

There's also a uservoice request:

https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601021-adobe-indesign-feature-requests/suggestions/48965648-ca...

[rhinogulius]

I agree. I don't know how many times in the last week I have hit "cancel" instead of "don't save". There's NO REASON TO CHANGE THIS. Literally makes no sense. Next update better change it back.