Open Type properties glitch?

[michaelw26331235]

Hi,

I have an issue with a block of type that is using OpenType stylistic set 3 (so it has a round 'a' rathar than one with the tail at the top). When I copy it over to any other document it then loses that stylistic set and the 'a's all change to the kind with the tail at the top, also slightly altering the layout of the paragraph.

I am working on a series of books which all feature this same paragraph so had originally copy and pasted it over until I realised it was changing the OpenType setting.

I then tried stripping back the document which features the working paragraph to just that paragraph (with the working 'a's) add all the copy, images, etc onto this 'clean' templated document and checking the 'a's after every paste. The paragraph stayed the same and 'a's remained as stylistic set 3. However, when I then closed and reopen the document that stylistic set is not applied, the 'a's have all turned to the ones with the little tail at the top and, when clicking on the 'O' at the bottom of the text box is says, "OpenType properties are not applicable"

I've tried this twice in case I had made a mistake, but it is changing once it reopens. What can I do? Is there a setting or is the file somehow corrupt, and if so please does anyone have any solution for fixing it?

[Mike Witherell]

Hi Michael, 

Are you defining these attributes in a paragraph style and then applying the paragraph style to get the "one-storey" letter a?

Are you making sure to make that paragraph style based on "No Paragraph Style" as opposed to "Basic Paragraph Style"?

[michaelw26331235]

Hi Mike,
I'm not using paragraph styles at all. But when I delete all the other elements, save the file and then reopen it, it changes that paragraph to use the double storey a. Does that mean that one of the deleted elements was giving that paragraph the opentype properties? I don't understand why that ability suddenly disappears...?

[Mike Witherell]

Michael,

Without examining your file, it is hard to say. But...

The whole central design of InDesign is to use paragraph styles.

Paragraph styles give you control.

[michaelw26331235]

Hi Mike,

Yes, that's fair enough, but I've inherited a document which doesn't appear to use paragraph styles, and when I delete all the other text and images it displays correctly until I reopen it after saving. Why would that change upon reopening only rather than when all the other elements were/had been deleted? If the setting/style is a certain way when it closes shouldn't it be the same when the file reopens? (Paragraph styles or no paragraph styles)

[michaelw26331235]

Hi Mike, I've found that even if I resave the document with a different name, when it reopens that OpenType formating is no longer applied to that paragraph. I really don't know what is the issue. I'd be happy to upload the file if you're willing to look at it for me?

[Mike Witherell]

Michael,

Without opening your file and examining it, one would only be playing a 20 questions guessing game.

Over the years, I have continued to be amazed at the load of errors that can be in an InDesign file. 

So post an example file, if you can.

Or if you worry about confidentiality, here is a compendium of troubleshooting advice you can try on your own.

Also, read about paragraph and character styles.

https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/paragraph-character-styles.html

[michaelw26331235]

Hi Mike,

Thanks very much for trying to help. If you're interested I've found it was actually a font conflict issue - 2 versions of the same font/weight - that seemed to have caused it as it's working now having resolved that.

So, I'm afraid I still won't be learning about paragraph styles just yet!