My Anchored Object panel is grayed out?

[cfdcrochet]

Hello — I don't normally use Anchored Objects, but decided to try them out on a current project, and ran into a strange issue. When I select a text box or image in my layout and then go to the Object menu, my Anchored Object panel is grayed out. I've attached an image to show what I mean (AnchoredObjectMenu.png).

Also, when I click on a text box or on an image in InDesign (in any document I've created) the text box and image frame seem to be missing certain features. Again, I've attached images that hopefully show what I mean:

The attached images "MyTextBox.png" and "MyImageBox.png" show how my frames look.

In the attached images "ExampleTextBox.png" and "ExampleImageBox.png", I've circled in red the features that are missing for me when I create a text box or image frame.

I'm guessing that these missing features are related to my Anchored Object menu being grayed out.

Does anyone know what's going on here or how I can fix it?

FYI: I'm using InDesign 17.4.2 (that's as high as I can go with my operating system + current computer)

Thanks!

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Are your objects Anchored in the text - or just somewhere on the page? 

Anchored objects will have anchor icon in the top right corner. 

[cfdcrochet]

I haven't created an Anchored Object yet. I was trying to, but the panel is grayed out and, as shown in my attached images and explained above, there seems to be features missing from my text frames and image frames — I circled what's missing in the Example images.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Anchor first. 

[cfdcrochet]

I can't anchor because the Anchored Object panel is grayed out — see image/explanation above.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/indesign/using/anchored-objects.html#:~:text=You%20can%20anchor%20text%20...

You can anchor by drag&drop or by cut/copy & paste. 

[cfdcrochet · Accepted solution]

Thank you for your help, but that wasn't my issue — however, I figured it out on my own. Turned out, I just needed to select View>Extras>Show Anchored Object Control.

So simple! Can't believe I didn't see it before taking the time to post this.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Thank you for your help, but that wasn't my issue — however, I figured it out on my own. Turned out, I just needed to select View>Extras>Show Anchored Object Control.

So simple! Can't believe I didn't see it before taking the time to post this.

By @cfdcrochet

And after that the menu has been activated? 

[cfdcrochet]

Now I have the controls I was missing on the text + image frames and can start exploring and playing around with Anchored Objects, so I should be good to go.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Now I have the controls I was missing on the text + image frames and can start exploring and playing around with Anchored Objects, so I should be good to go.

By @cfdcrochet

But did showing the controls activated the menu? 

[cfdcrochet]

I think the menu became activated when I pasted the object inline with my text. But now I also have the little anchor icon showing on my image frame, for accessing the Anchored Object Options.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I think the menu became activated when I pasted the object inline with my text. But now I also have the little anchor icon showing on my image frame, for accessing the Anchored Object Options.

By @cfdcrochet

That was my point - this menu won't be active - untill you Anchor / InLine object in the text. 

[cfdcrochet]

You're right, but I was mainly trying to figure out why my text and object boxes were missing the icons I noted. Thank you for your help in answering my first question about the menu being grayed out, though!

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

You need to have copied an image object, text frame, OR a set of grouped objects.

Then, put your text cursor where you want the image and paste.

Use the Anchored Object Options to adjust how the object(s) are positioned.