File>Place greyed out

[steved2204407]

Ok, I just installed InDesign 2019 and am trying to import a Word file, but the Place option is greyed out.  I am on the 7-day trial.  Is that why I can't use it, or is there perhaps something else going on?  I don't want to pay for the product only to find that we still don't have the option.

[Scott Falkner]

Does this apply to all documents or only one document? I never used the trial version so I don’t know if the Place feature behaves differently from the full version, but I doubt it.

[steved2204407]

It's not a specific document (and it could be that I just don't know what I'm doing); it's just not available when I open InDesign. I do have a Word doc open, but that isn't affecting anything. My understanding was that if I open ID, then I should click File>Place to import the file, but when I click on File, only a handful of options are available to click, and Place isn't one of them. I'd really like to see how this program will handle what we're trying to accomplish!

[SJRiegel · Accepted solution]

Do you have an InDesign document open? In order to use Place, you have to have an InDesign document ready to Place into.

[steved2204407]

Well whaddayaknow... It worked! It didn't come in the way I wanted it to, but I'll learn how to fix that. Thank you!

[steved2204407]

Alllllllllllllright...

Now I have another issue. When I place the file (there are several tables and charts), I only see the header from the document. It doesn't appear that the rest of the file is being brought in. That said, there are charts that can be seen under the Links tab, but when I click on them, I get a message that says, "Cannot show link: The selected item is hidden in overset text". Is the file being brought in but I just can't see everything?

[Jongware]

Well, 7 days IS a bit short to learn how to tame this complicated (because "professional level") software. Do you see the red box, bottom right, on your frame? That is "overset" – there is more text than fits in the box you drew. Enlarge it, or add a page, click the red box and add a frame on the next page. Hold down SHIFT when placing that so ID knows you want to 'place all', adding pages as necessary.