Data Merge Doesn't Let Me Edit Merged Data Sometimes

[plumbus]

Hello!

I have an InDesign file which I import data from a CSV into, but sometimes InDesign won't let me edit what I import. In these cases, when I click into the text to edit it, the entire imported field gets selected and my only option is to delete all of it; I want to edit just some of it and leave the rest.

For example, let's say a field imported contains the text ABCABC, but I want it to be ABCDEF. If I click into the field's text box, it selects all of the text instead of just some of it. The second I type anything or try to delete anything in the text box, the whole field is deleted.

Is there an option I'm missing to stop this from happening? It seems to happen randomly, and usually I can do what I want to, which is edit the imported value within the text box.

[Jeffrey_Smith]

Can you show an example with hidden characters and tag markers showing? Other than tag markers, a merged Indesign document should not be any different than a standard document.

[plumbus]

Hidden characters and tag markers are showing in the following examples:

In the first image, I haven't tried to edit the text.

In the second image, I have tried to edit the text, but InDesign selects all of the text; it won't let me select just some of it or delete any of it without deleting all of it.

Thanks.

[Jeffrey_Smith]

Your screen shot is not showing either hidden or markers, it would look like this:

[plumbus]

Ah, I apologize. I thought they were on. See the following screenshots. Is there a different way to enable them?

[Jeffrey_Smith]

Change Hide Hidden Characters to Show Hidden Characters. For tag markers, View > Structure > Show Tag Markers.

You should be able to select and highlight individual characters without issue. Some times the tag marker can interfere with selecting multiple words, but your example appears as one placeholder.

Are you double clicking or triple clicking when selecting? Are you contexually selecting or holding down other keys like alt, shift, etc.?

[plumbus]

Thanks, Jeff. I really appreciate it. I made those changes and it's still not showing any markers/tags.

I am not holding down any other keys and I am not double-clicking or triple-clicking: even when I click once, the text is automatically highlighted.

For whatever reason, the file isn't experiencing this problem now, but it happens from time to time on various files. I think it has something to do with whether the merged values are saved into the document or not: after reloading the file this time, it wasn't an issue. Next time this happens I'll try saving and re-opening the document a few times to see if that won't fix the problem.