Find + Replace not working in InDesign CC2019

[Sue Hauke]

Hello, I upgraded to InDesign CC2019 this week and now find and replace is not working.  I'm am working in a long table (over almost 40 pages) with numerous type elements that I want to clean up, including replacing multiple spaces with a single space (using grep).  Here's a screen grab.  In this case I'm trying to replace the "space hyphen space" with something else.  Also trying to replace 'space / space' with something else.  Nothing is working!  Help!!!  I also just rebooted my machine to see if that might fix a blip.  But same problem.

[Scott Citron]

My guess is that your table is on a master page. See my screen shot:

Now if I click on the Include Master Pages icon (see screen shot), Find/Change recognizes the space-hyphen-space string I've asked it to locate.

Hope this helps!

[Sue Hauke · Accepted solution]

Thanks for your reply, Scott. After reading some other postings, I checked.  The table is not on a master page, but the table runs over 40 pages.... In the meantime, I discovered that on one of those 40 pages, a text box was accidentally locked.  That seems to have disabled Find's ability to do anything. Having unlocked it, it looks like I'm back in business!  Whew!   I just see your second comment has come in.  Yes, locking was the problem.  Thanks for your responses.

[Scott Citron]

Glad to hear you figured it out, Sue.

[Scott Citron]

Also check to make sure your table isn't locked or on a locked layer. Either situation will prevent Find/Change from locating your match. BTW, Find/Change also has an icon (far left of row) you can click to force it to look for locked items or layers.

Scott