Forgetful Workspace Workaround

[jeffhalmos]

Years, years I tell you, of InDesign forgetting my Workspace over various versions and preference and Workspace resets and complete uninstalls and reinstalls. 

Since Adobe doesn't care, I sicced ChatGPT on it, I gave it the name of my custom Workspace (which you should be using anyway), and it created a file called "SetDefaultWorkspace.jsx" that you drop into the folder inside the ID application folder: Scripts > Startup scripts. I had it create the code and create the file so i could simply download it.

When I set the Workspace to something else and then quit the app and rebooted it, my workspace was selected as the default; every time.

This ends those annoying popups Adobe won't give us control over. The only way to avoid them is to create a Workspace, use a startup script as outlined above, so that ID doesn't think you're a newbie.

The propt would be something like:

Create an Indesign startup script called SetDefaultWorkspace.jsx that I can download, and tell me where to place it. My Workspace is called [your Workspace name].

[creative explorer]

@jeffhalmos Oddly, I have the opposite as I am able to save my different workspaces in InDesign. Maybe because I am using a MAC? Or knock on wood, lucky?

[jeffhalmos]

MacOS, M2. Was happening before a full delete and install. Always using latest versions of everything.

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @jeffhalmos,

Thanks so much for sharing your detailed experience and the creative workaround you developed!

I just checked on my end (I'm on the latest(20.4.1) InDesign version), and my custom workspace does stay saved even after quitting and reopening the app. It sounds like this issue might be specific to your environment or certain configurations. Could you please confirm which OS and exact InDesign version you're using? Also, let me know if this happens in a new test workspace or only with your main one.

If possible, try completely removing InDesign by using the CC cleaner tool and then reinstalling it back via Creative Cloud Desktop app. Then, make a custom workspace and see if it stays there. 

I'd love to understand this better so we can share it with the team and help avoid the need for external scripts. Let me know what you observe!

Looking forward to your update.

Abhishek

[jeffhalmos]

I've uninstalled and reinstalled ID again. I'm wondering if the seemingly easily corrupted ID preferences have a combination of past versions that causes this issue I and others are having with Workspaces being forgotten. I'll find you again if the issue crops up.

[jeffhalmos]

I give up.

CC Cleaner Tool. Reinstall. Gave it 3 weeks. Not remembering my Workspace. Handful of associates still having the issue as well.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @jeffhalmos,

I'm sorry to hear the suggestions did not help. I've sent you a DM. Kindly check.

Anubhav