InDesign Drag copying to move the duplicate object no longer shows the original during the move.

[maxglitz]

In recent versions of InDesign (Currently using InDesign 18.5, Mac OS Ventura), I've noticed that when I drag copy an object to its new position, the original vanishes during the drag. Often I need to drag it and still see the original for an exact placement in relationship to the original being copied. Has that vanished from InDesign? Or am I missing some other preference or additional modifier key to make that happen? 

I feel like I'm playing the minuet with my left hand with various modifier keys (including one to keep the move vertical or horizontal only). I can't seem to find a list of modifier keys and their functions for drag-copy that I can use as a cheat sheet until I learn it... AGAIN.

[Nancy OShea]

[Moderator moved from Using the Community forums to InDesign.]

[Randy Hagan]

I've had the same experience.

I'd either set Ruler Guides in my target document to keep my alignment right, or perhaps you can use the Edit>Copy menu command in your source document (if your copied elements are going to the exact same place within the page geometry of your target document) Then use the Edit>Paste in Place menu command in the target document and see what you get.

Hope this helps you out,

Randy

[maxglitz]

Thanks, Randy. That's what I've resorted to, using the keyboard shortcuts equivalent of what you show as menu commands. Still, the ease of holding a key down and dragging a duplicate of something to it's new position with the original still in sight was just so elegantly simple. I miss that. I used to do it without even thinking.

[Randy Hagan]

I agree. But while I miss the interim view as I dragged from one doc to the next, I just press on regardless.

That doesn't mean giving up, though. If you'd like, you can file a bug report/feature request by following this link. And let folks know what the report number is for your filing back here. I'm sure you'll find others who agree with us that it was a nice thing, and it'd be a nice thing to have back once again.

Randy

[Jumpenjax]

I also place copy in the same manor as Randy Suggested.

[rob day]

Hi @maxglitz , Is your Interface Live Screen drawing Preference set to Immediate?

[maxglitz]

No, as always with me, it's set for a pause. 

[rob day]

I meant set it to Immediate if you want to see the object as you drag.

[maxglitz]

I'll try that, but in the past the effect I want always applied itself WITH the pause. Somthing that went back to the earliest days of InDesign to allow any number of things to show after the pause. (I'm one of the dinosaurs that used it when it first came out back in the dawn of dust.)

[rob day]

Could be hardware related, maybe try turning GPU Performance on or off?

[Peter Spier]

I don't see that here on PC, but I'm still using 18.2 (18.5 seems very buggy, at least on Mac).

[kevinm89743258]

I also have this issue and it's making me crazy. My live screen drawing is set to immediate. 

[HARSHIKA_VERMA]

Hi @kevinm89743258,

Sorry to hear you're having trouble moving the objects. Would you mind telling us the version of InDesign installed on your machine and the details of your operating system?

Is it possible to share a screen recording of the issue?

We will try our best to investigate it further.

Thanks,

Harshika

[kevinm89743258]

Thanks for prompt reply Harshika. This has been happening for at least 6 months. Current Version is up to date. V. 19.1 I'm also current on Mac OS Sonoma 14.3.1, M1 Max 32GB. While drag copying, the frame being copied dissappears completely, so the position of the copy is floating in space. Upon drop, the original frame appears, but now your copy is nowhere close to where it needs to be. Causing the user much stress and annoyance as they now have to move the copy back to position. You clearly need the original frame present on drag / drop to reference the drop location point. Please help! 

[Randy Hagan]

I'm working with InDesign CC 2023 and 2024 on the Windows platform today. When I try to duplicate an object holding down the Alt+Shift keys I don't see a duplicate item, but I see a frame outline of the object until I let up on the Alt+Shift keys and the left mouse button. Then I see the duplicate item placed where I let up on the keys.

Are you not getting the duplicate at all? Or are youy getting the same results, but not seeing the object until you release all the keys?

Randy

[kevinm89743258]

Thanks Randy, not seeing anything, recent screen cap has been added. I'm lost in space over here. 

[Randy Hagan]

It looks like you have the "two triangle" cursor icon when you pick up the first image in your screen cap, like Adobe Illustrator shows when you drag-copy someting in that program.

The two triangle cursor, a black one layered over a white one with a black border, is a minimal but consistent indicator that you are drag-copying something you've selected. When you release, you are getting the desired result, and that's the important thing. The indicator is subtle, but it is there. Of course that's nowhere near as good as seeing what you're drag-copying, or even seeing an outline frame you could use to line things up if you're doing precision positioning.

The only thing I'd suggest trying is placing a couple of ruler guides, one vertical and one horizontal, and seeing if you get a frame-like image when you line things up. You may also want to turn on the View>Grids & Guides>Snap To Guides option and see if that changes the rules as you drag-copy something into position. I just did that with my Mac running IDCC 2023 (I'm not on the latest version for Mac to match up with a client — long story) and I see the outline frame when I drag-copy something with InDesign.

Hopefully something in this will be helpful for you.

Randy