how do I stop dragging text wrap instead of text frame?

[jfraze]

I can't seem to find a preference or even a description of this. When I create a text frame (or an image frame) it comes with a text wrap (which normally is fine) but if I try to resize the frame, instead of grabbing the edge of the frame it automatically grabs the edge of the text wrap indicator and drags that instead. I've tried holding down varies modifier keys to try to grab the frame edge instead, but nothing seems to work.

Is the only way to accomplish this to first turn off the text wrap, then drag the frame edge where I want it, then go turn text wrap back on? That seems so clumsy and inefficient I can't imagine that's how it's supposed to work, but I can't track down anything better.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

I think you're misreading what you see. If a text wrap margin is displayed around a frame, and you grab a frame edge, it looks as if the adjustment is to the wrap margin. From all my experimenting, it's really the frame that's adjusting, but the drag display uses the same thin blue line as the margin as you do so. I can't make ID grab the wrap margin line at all.

If you're seeing something else, maybe clarify a little?

[Barb Binder]

Hi @jfraze:

This would happen if you are inadvertently using the Direct Selection tool to grab a text wrap anchor point instead of the Selection tool to grab the frame's sizing handle. And particularly easy if the offset is set to 0 and the right boundary is lined up with the edge of the frame.

Which tool is active as you try to resize the frame?

If you tend to click near the middle of a frame to select it, you will click on the Content Grabber, which automatically switches you to the Direct Selection tool, even if you had intentionally selected the Selection tool first.

~Barb

[jfraze]

Hmm... that seems to be the solution, sort of. Although the issue isn't an anchor point, but the frame edge: it selects the wrap edge instead of the frame edge. The problem is still that the text box may be grouped with other items on the page. If I use the Selection Tool it selects the entire group, not just the text box I want to re-size, and I can't select the frame edge at all. There's no way to limit my selection to the frame from the Direct Selection tool?

[James Gifford—NitroPress · Accepted solution]

Double-click on the object in the group. You can then select and modify any item in the group.

[Barb Binder]

Ok, so that's the first mention of a group. And that explains what your tight crop is hiding from us—to select a frame within a group:

• Dbl click the Selection tool, or
• Click once with the Direct Selection tool. 

If you click the frame with the Direct Selection tool to isolate it in the group, then you will have the Direct Selection tool active and dragging the edge will move the text wrap boundary. This is what you just showed us: note the white arrow with the / next to it—that's the Direct Selection tool .

If you double click the frame with the Selection tool instead, then you will have the Selection tool active, and dragging the edge will change the frame width. This is the issue.

~Barb

[jfraze]

I didn't say it was always in a group, just at times it "may be grouped." Yes, Mr. Gifford mentioned the double-click method of selecting items within the group. The video clip was made before the explanation about double-clicking with Direct Select tool. I was asking if there was a way to select the frame edge with the Direct Selection tool (instead of the wrap)... a modifier key combo or something. I gather there is not. Thanks for your help.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

The takeaway here, I think, is that the behavior of the two selection arrows is quite different. (Frankly, I find the way it handles frames and the wrap margin to be a little freaky.) Any time you're having selection or object control issues, make sure you're using the right selector. It throws a lot of users over the long learning curve of ID.

[Barb Binder]

I was asking if there was a way to select the frame edge with the Direct Selection tool (instead of the wrap)... a modifier key combo or something. I gather there is not.

You are correct, @jfraze: there is not a modifier key to select the frame edge with the Direct Selection tool when text wrap is enabled and set to a zero offset, regardless of groups.

• If there was an offset value other than zero, then you could grab the frame edge with the Direct Selection tool to move it. 
• If text wrap was disabled, you could grab the frame edge with the Direct Selection tool to move it. 

If you feel like this leaves a void in InDesign, you can always file a feature request here: https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601021-adobe-indesign-feature-requests

And if you are open to a tip: working with the Tool Hints panel open saves time trying to guess modifier key combinations. If modifier keys enhance how the selected tool works, they will be listed in the panel.

Window > Utilities > Tool Hints

~Barb