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Inspiring
September 15, 2017
Answered

How to retain preferences + workspace settings?

  • September 15, 2017
  • 3 replies
  • 9505 views

Every time I launch InDesign, I have to manually change preferences. I understand that when InDesign crashes, the preferences won't work. But even when I manually quit and restart, I have to keep recreating my settings. This is becoming a nuisance.

My saved workspace, for example, is for a white pasteboard. Even though I've saved it as "white pasteboard," it never resets the default black pasteboard.

I see that a number of other people have asked this question. It doesn't seem to get answered.

Thank you.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Bill Silbert

    Set up all of your preferences with the program active but with no document open. When you're done setting everything as you like quit the program. When you relaunch the preferences should hold.

    If it does not work the first time then try deleting your preferences first.

    To do so:

    For Macintosh Users: With InDesign closed Launch a Finder Window in column view and click on your home folder. With the Option Key pressed choose Library from the Finder Go Menu. Within the Library folder find the folder called Preferences and within it find the following two files and delete them: “Adobe InDesign” and “com.adobe.InDesign.plist”. When InDesign is next launched it will create new preference files and the program will be restored to its defaults.

    After you set up your new preferences as I suggested above make a copy of your "pristine" preference file to use in the future to replace any corrupt versions you may need to delete.

    For Windows Users: Hold down Ctrl + Alt + Shift when launching InDesign and respond affirmatively when asked if you want to reset.

    Windows preference file: C:\Users\[User Name]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\InDesign\Version [#].

    3 replies

    amaarora
    Inspiring
    September 15, 2017

    Hi,

    What do you mean by white pasteboard?

    If you have unchecked "Match pasteboard to theme color" in Interface section of Preferences then it should be preserved. Which i guess you are hinting at.

    If however you have changed the paste board color from the Preferences->Guide and pasteboard(preview) section to white then it is not preserved since it is stored at document level.

    -Aman

    janepellAuthor
    Inspiring
    September 15, 2017

    By white, I mean that's the name I gave it. No, I'm not setting it at document level. I'm setting it with no file open. But I'll try the suggestion above. Thanks.

    Participating Frequently
    July 12, 2020

    Jane, I think I know what you mean. I like my docs to open with my fav settings: all rules are .25 black, and the font is Gotham. To retain this, your create WORKSPACES (all the way in the upper right hand corner). Save 'em and then you can recall them for any new doc. However, mine just stopped working today, and after some fussing around, I just reset them (toggle them on and off - just select another workspace in your blank doc and then reselect the saved workspace).  June

    Barb Binder
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    September 15, 2017

    Does this happen every time? Are your folder permissions set to allow InDesign to save your defaults?

    ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
    janepellAuthor
    Inspiring
    September 15, 2017

    I'm going to try Bill's above suggestion, but since you ask, I don't know what folder permissions are.

    Bill Silbert
    Community Expert
    Bill SilbertCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    September 15, 2017

    Set up all of your preferences with the program active but with no document open. When you're done setting everything as you like quit the program. When you relaunch the preferences should hold.

    If it does not work the first time then try deleting your preferences first.

    To do so:

    For Macintosh Users: With InDesign closed Launch a Finder Window in column view and click on your home folder. With the Option Key pressed choose Library from the Finder Go Menu. Within the Library folder find the folder called Preferences and within it find the following two files and delete them: “Adobe InDesign” and “com.adobe.InDesign.plist”. When InDesign is next launched it will create new preference files and the program will be restored to its defaults.

    After you set up your new preferences as I suggested above make a copy of your "pristine" preference file to use in the future to replace any corrupt versions you may need to delete.

    For Windows Users: Hold down Ctrl + Alt + Shift when launching InDesign and respond affirmatively when asked if you want to reset.

    Windows preference file: C:\Users\[User Name]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\InDesign\Version [#].

    janepellAuthor
    Inspiring
    September 15, 2017

    This did work. Thanks. At first it didn't but I had failed to name the new set of preferences.

    Bill Silbert
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    September 15, 2017

    If you deleted preferences after unchecking the Start Page then the program would go back to default and it would be there again. Make all of your customizations to the program with no document open after deleting your preferences. I realize that my original post might have been a little confusing in the order but to be clear: 1. Delete Preferences with program closed. 2. Customize your InDesign with no document open. 3. Quit InDesign and hopefully your preferences will stick.