Indesign CC 2020 new properties side panel

[mirza h]

Hi all,

Is it bug on my end or Indesign CC2020 new side properties panel > paragraph styles does not have right click option? I used it a lot on 'old panel', especially 'Apply next styles' which is huge time saver. Why is this disabled in new panel? Thanks! Picture below:

[Steve Werner · Accepted solution]

The Styles options are limited in the Properties panel. Many things you can do in the Paragraph Styles panel you cannot do in the Styles section of Properties. I would just open the Paragraph Styles and Character Styles panels and work there.

The Properties panel was only relatively recently added, and hasn't been filled out with all the features it should have. You can make a feature request at the InDesign User Voice website:

https://indesign.uservoice.com

[Barb Binder · Accepted solution]

And to frame this for you—the new Properties panel is really geared towards a new user who is trying to figure out InDesign on their own. A new installation of InDesign will open up with a very limited set of panels including the new Properties panel. The commands that appear in there are the ones that a new user would most likely be looking for first. This approach is designed to not overwhelm a new user who could potentially give up without trying if they were initially faced with all (or even a lot) of InDesign's myriad features. 

While I certainly explain how to use the new Properties panel in class, I don't use it at all when I'm working on my own. I rely on the Control Panel that has always appeared along the top of InDesign along with the other panels that support my workflow.

~Barb

[mirza h]

Thank you all.

[m90583877]

How is showing some weird useless panel with like three half useful functions is going to help a new user?

Why would you not show them the normal work process, and instead give some useless panel with like three Microsoft Word level options, that does not include half the stuff people use in InDesign daily?

If I were a new user and all I saw is one panel with three functions that can not solve half my tasks, and to actually make use of the software I have to go and search the same properties windows again, but fully, I would not even go that far and just give it up as completely useless software.

[Barb Binder]

Hi @m90583877:

I've explained the reasoning above, so I won't repeat it. This is a user-to-user forum—meaning we are users like you—so if you really can't stand seeing the Essentials workspace, you might consider posting a feature request on https://indesign.uservoice.com and request that it be removed. 

I will offer a gentle reminder that it takes about 2 seconds to change the workspace, and then you won't need to see the Properties panel again. 😊

~Barb