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Hi - somehow, I have a couple of empty text boxes in a 180-page document. If I delete them, the order is disturbed. The threads go every which way. I don't know how they came into this book, or how to get them out. Help? I'm a relative novice.
Obviously, frame threading is a bit screwed up. Normally, text flow should look like this:
In your case, I think, it’s enough to delete frames I marked in red:
Before doing this, reveal Hidden Characters and check those frames. If there is any Frame/Column Break, delete it. After deleting invisibles, some text may appear in those X frames. Don’t bother about it at the moment: after deleting those frames text will jump back where it was. Removing some threaded frames doesn’t remove text itself.
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what software are you using?
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It sounds like this is InDesign.
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sorry, I forgot to say: InDesign CS6 on Windows 10 (PC)
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Moved to the InDesign Forum.
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The order of the threads impacts the flow of the text. Can you show an example of a troublesome spread (before and after would be great)—but first go to the View menu > Extras and be sure Frame Edges and Text Threads are showing (they will both show Hide when they are).
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Here's the screenshot. Maybe my question is ... if I did duplicate the
document in these extra frames, how do I delete it without damaging the
layout I've created?
While when I look at the frames, as suggested, there's nothing in them,
there is an arrow on the bottom, and if I click on that, the text of the
document appears
On Sat, Jun 10, 2017 at 9:46 AM, BarbBinder <forums_noreply@adobe.com>
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Hi Leila: the screen shot isn't appearing. Use the button outlined in orange to add it to your reply.
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thanks - here it is!
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Obviously, frame threading is a bit screwed up. Normally, text flow should look like this:
In your case, I think, it’s enough to delete frames I marked in red:
Before doing this, reveal Hidden Characters and check those frames. If there is any Frame/Column Break, delete it. After deleting invisibles, some text may appear in those X frames. Don’t bother about it at the moment: after deleting those frames text will jump back where it was. Removing some threaded frames doesn’t remove text itself.
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leilagolden wrote
Hi - somehow, I have a couple of empty text boxes in a 180-page document. If I delete them, the order is disturbed. The threads go every which way. I don't know how they came into this book, or how to get them out. Help? I'm a relative novice.
Hi Leila,
what order is disturbed?
Why do you want to remove the text frames, if any order is disturbed after removing them?
The frames could fulfill purposes…
( like wrapping text with other text frames )
I take from your discription, that you did not build this document.
So if you have a chance, ask the one who build the doc.
Always test things on duplicated files.
Regards,
Uwe
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I'm the culprit. I built the doc. I'm a writer and editor but I enjoy book
design and have done a bit, though this is only the second massive indesign
project I've done, and since it's a minimal grant and thus more of a
volunteer offer for my town, I can't hire a professional. So yes, I'm
learning! And it's fun, except that somehow I have these tw toext boxes
that go every which way and if I delete the box, the next page drops down
yet another page. I'm afraid they duplicate those pages - and thus the
entire document!
I seem to remember that a few days back I duplicated a spread out of some
frustration. I now believe I duplicated the entire document - which sits to
one side...yikes! 2/3 of the book is in place, with photos and captions.
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Can you show us what you are working with? Otherwise, we are just guessing. And Winterm has a good point, please have text symbols showing too.
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People often mistakenly treat Text Frame as empty if there’s no visible characters in it. In addition what Barb said, show non-printing, too (Type > Show Hidden Characters). There may be some Column/Frame Break inserted. Then you need to delete that ’empty’ text frame AND Break character itself.
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Some other tips:
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It may be more effective to open a new document and reflow the text now that you have an idea of what it should look like. It could take you longer to untangle the mislinked text boxes and looking for frames behind frames. No shame in starting over!
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Well, I did what winterm suggested - saving the file as a new document first, and then deleting everything extraneous. It did bump my text down a page or two, which meant I needed to realign it with the photos, but, hey, it's all learning.
If anyone has had this issue, I'd love to know how it started!
BTW: I did have a tiny thing on the "empty" frame:
I can't seem to paste it here, a tiny circle with a wedge beneath it. And it seems to make a frame when I add it to indesign. I tried it in Word and it created "control"
Thanks so much all! My first try at using this forum has been very useful.
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InDesign Secrets has a 5-page PDF that shows the invisible characters. See if you can match it here:
https://indesignsecrets.com/free-guide-to-indesign-special-characters.php
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leilagolden wrote
... a tiny circle with a wedge beneath it.
Must be some kind of a Page Break:
Glad you sorted it out!