I cannot see any previous questions on this. I'm increasigly opening older CC ID files. And increasingly seeing the same problem. When it's opening them it's locking nearly all if not all of the text frames on the page. This has been happening to be for the past few revisions of ID. But it seems to be getting worse. Obvious answers out the way.Thay are not on locked frames or locked object or master page items. The only way I can edit the text frames is to highlight the copy and copy and paste it into a whole new text frame on page. Then I can edit the copy. This isn't a one off. It's happening quite often now on older files. I would say 3 out of 10 old files opened. Any ideas or is this a bug. thx!

Inspiring

Question

Indesign locking text frames with old ID files

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
February 12, 2025
2 replies
1108 views

I cannot see any previous questions on this.

I'm increasigly opening older CC ID files. And increasingly seeing the same problem. When it's opening them it's locking nearly all if not all of the text frames on the page. This has been happening to be for the past few revisions of ID. But it seems to be getting worse.

Obvious answers out the way.

Thay are not on locked frames or locked object or master page items.

The only way I can edit the text frames is to highlight the copy and copy and paste it into a whole new text frame on page. Then I can edit the copy.

This isn't a one off. It's happening quite often now on older files. I would say 3 out of 10 old files opened.

Any ideas or is this a bug.

thx!

Bug

Mike Witherell

Community Expert

Are a lot of these older documents a copy of other similar documents?

Have you explored exporting the document to IDML; then re-opening the IDML to SAVE AS to a new INDD document; in order to see if the problem persists?

If it is happening to all documents, have you experimented with a reset of InDesign preferences?

Mike Witherell

R

RobFarmerAuthor

Inspiring

IDML was my first idea. As it cleans the document. But doesn't fix this issue sadly.

Mike Witherell

Community Expert

equally it's not only effecting me. Multiple users opening the document. On both OSX and WIN versions of ID. I get editors asking me why am I unable to edit text frames.

Very puzzling.

Yes, very puzzling. I have not heard of a problem quite like the one you are describing.

Mike Witherell

Abhishek Rao

Community Manager

Hello @RobFarmer,

Would you mind sharing the details of your OS? It looks like selecting all objects (Cmd + A / Ctrl + A) and unlocking them might not be working for you. If that’s the case, could you try saving the affected file as IDML, reopening it in InDesign, and checking if the issue persists?

Additionally, could you share the original sample file so we can check it our end:

- Which InDesign version the file was originally created in

- Which version you’re opening it in

- Where the file is stored (local drive, external drive, network, or cloud)

This will help narrow down the cause. Let me know how it goes.

^
Abhishek

R

RobFarmerAuthor

Inspiring

To add more information.

I'm opening old ID files. This on is a created circ 2017. So opening the file in ID 2024. But this has been happing for a few revisions of ID so not specifically to the 2024 edition.

And then copying the DPS content into a brand new page. And text frames are still locked for editing.

It's a mix of storage. Cloud on Gdrive and local. Still the same.

The only fix I have worked out is to copy the copy from the text frames into freshly created text frames. Which makes you think some lock attribute is on. It isn't and wasn't on the original source material.

It's a puzzling one. And feels like a bug to me. I'm curious if other people have been experiencing this opening older ID files.

R

RobFarmerAuthor

Inspiring

Sorry I mean I'm copying the content into a brand new document. Not just adding a new page to the old docutment openend.

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