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N
NJ Author
Inspiring
March 16, 2021
Answered

Drawing a line without a bounding box/frame

  • March 16, 2021
  • 4 replies
  • 1128 views

I must have changed something recently, but when I draw a line with the line tool (backslash shortcut), the line gets a bounding box, which it never had before, making it extremely difficult to change the end points using the white arrow tool. I have to go in and delete three anchors for this useless box Every Time. This changed recently and I can't figure it out for the life of me.

 

Using CS6 on Windows. Any help greatly appreciated; please and thanks.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Laubender

Hi NJ Author,

what is your Text Wrap panel telling you about this object?

Is text wrap turned off? If not, turn it off when nothing is selected, turn it off when this object is selected.

 

I can see exactly your issue if text wrap is turned on by default with value 0 for the wrap.

From my German InDesign CS6 on Windows 10:

 

 

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

4 replies

L
LaubenderCorrect answer
Community Expert
March 18, 2021

Hi NJ Author,

what is your Text Wrap panel telling you about this object?

Is text wrap turned off? If not, turn it off when nothing is selected, turn it off when this object is selected.

 

I can see exactly your issue if text wrap is turned on by default with value 0 for the wrap.

From my German InDesign CS6 on Windows 10:

 

 

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

    N
    NJ AuthorAuthor
    Inspiring
    March 19, 2021

    Thanks Uwe. That did it! This has been driving me crazy for weeks. Somehow the default value got changed. Greatly appreciate your help. One more question to go (in a separate thread).

     

    As for CS6 being past end of life, it does more than I will ever need, and has for years. I see no reason to upgrade. The only thing that the newer versions have that I like is the dark interface, but for $600/year, I don't like it that much <grin>. Thanks again!

    L
    Laubender
    Community Expert
    March 17, 2021

    Hi NJ Author,

    it would really help, if  you can you show a screenshot of this object selected.

    Also the used tool showing selected plus the Transform panel.

    View mode: Normal.

     

    Thanks,
    Uwe Laubender

    ( ACP )

    N
    NJ AuthorAuthor
    Inspiring
    March 18, 2021

    This is a screenshot with the white arrow tool selected, after I attempted to use it to drag one handle to alter the direction of a line.

    Geоrge
    Geоrge
    Brainiac
    March 16, 2021

    This is normal (default) behaviour to show you frame edges. If you don't wanna see that you are need to choose white arrow instead black arrow selection tool and then use it line tool. 

    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
    N
    NJ AuthorAuthor
    Inspiring
    March 17, 2021

    There should not be (and never has been) a frame for a simple line in the white arrow tool. Or at least there never has been in the past. Yes, it is there in the black arrow tool, but this isn't what I'm asking about. This happens in the direct selection (white arrow) tool. In normal circumstances if I draw a horizontal line I can go to the direct selection tool, pull on an endpoint and the line just "changes direction" so I can call out something with a text box. This is no longer possible.

    Geоrge
    Geоrge
    Brainiac
    March 18, 2021

    >> This is no longer possible

    >> Using CS6 on Windows. 

    Even Adobe support chan can't help you. CS6 is a walking dead for them.

     

    Hey, guys with CS6! Are you have such a bug too?

    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
    L
    Laubender
    Community Expert
    March 16, 2021

    Hi NJ Author,

    can you show a screenshot of this object selected?

    Also the used tool showing selected plus the Transform panel.

    View mode: Normal.

     

    Thanks,
    Uwe Laubender

    ( ACP )

    N
    NJ AuthorAuthor
    Inspiring
    March 18, 2021

     

    I drew a perfectly horizontal line using the line tool (the same thing happens if I use the pen tool to create a line). I switched to the white arrow tool, and tried to pull the left end of the line down. Instead of changing the direction of the line it pulled a handle instead. If I want to get rid of this I have to switch to the Pen/"minus" tool (- key), and delete three handles. Then the line becomes just a line again.

     

    I use this technique to call out a drawing highlight with an explanatory text box. This issue had never happened in the past, and I've been working on version of this file for many years; it literally just started happening to me in early March. I obviosuly changed a setting but I'll be darned if I can figure out where. At the same time I also cannot change the default paragraph vertical justification from "center" to "top" in the text frame option dialog.

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