Left aligned table cell text moves in exported PDF

Report · Sep 21, 2017

Hi

I have a strange issue, that I've not noticed before.

I have a wall planner, that is built with a table in InDesign. Within the table are the dates, aligned left. Below some of the dates are text boxes depicting the holiday (in orange).

I noticed in the PDF, created for printing, that the holiday text, that is left aligned to the number, didn't align for some reason. I drew a straight line down the numbers and text box as a test...

... yet when the PDF is produced, the numbers seem to wander out after each cell...

The numbers seem to move over by 0.1mm in each cell, until the last number is about 2mm away from the left edge/line, where it should be aligned.

Does anyone know how this happens? Is there a setting that does this incremental indenting automatically?

Any help will be useful, as I need to get this to print ASAP.

Kindest regards

Glynn

Report · Sep 21, 2017

What version of InDesign? What operating system? What are your PDF export settings? How are you viewing the PDF? How does it print?

Report · Sep 21, 2017

Hi Bob

Sorry, my specs are: Mac OS & Windows 10 - both the latest versions; latest InDesign & Acrobat; exporting for print (hi-res, 3mm bleed etc.); viewed with Acrobat; not tried printing.

I produced the same wall planner last year. I duplicated the file and amended the dates. Last year's PDF exported fine with the same settings. Obviously, since last year, both InDesign and Acrobat may have been updated - which I will be using if so.

It's an A0 wall planner, but I'll try and print a section off the bottom, where the issue lies.

I thought it might be an issue on the Mac, so I quit InDesign and tried again. Didn't help. Tried to PDF using the PC InDesign and the same issue prevailed.

Cheers

Glynn

Report · Sep 22, 2017

Hi Bob

Any ideas? I printed out the PDF and the numbers are definitely out, as in not aligned.

Cheers
Glynn

Report · Sep 22, 2017

Not off the top of my head. That is bizarre.

Have you tried a different font?

Report · Sep 22, 2017

Hi Bob

Great idea! But unfortunately, I tried Arial and it was the same... the text slowly creeps out of left alignment.

The only reason I noticed it went out of alignment is because I moved the holiday text, "Good Friday" etc., from the right to under the date number, to allow room for the week day names on the right.

Checking last years planner, that ALSO went out of alignment! As there was nothing aligning with it, you can't really notice the numbers straying, being only about 2-2.5mm. So it's now an ongoing issue.

The only quick way around this, although not ideal, is to put the numbers into text boxes, instead of the table cells. OK for a quick fix, but not ideal for anyone else PDFing designs with table cells containing text. This needs looking into big time. The most efficient way of designing a wall planner, is to use a table and text WITHIN table cells.

Cheers

Glynn