Paragraph and Character Styles very slow when making changes to an existing style, help!!

[victoriawolf]

It started back in March and has persisted ever since.

I have the latest, updated version of InDesign and Windows 11. I did not make any changes prior to the issue, and I have a newer desktop computer. I have been working with InDesign since it was the Pagemaker program, so knowledge is not an issue here. And, I have never had this problem in my 33 years of using Adobe programs.

That being said, here is the issue:

Randomly, when I edit an existing paragraph or character style, it can take 30 seconds to over a minute to be able to make that change. It happens when I choose a different setting, and also when I hit okay. 

• If I close ID and restart, it helps a bit, but not completely, and the issue continues to worsen as I make style changes.
• I have deactivated all fonts, and that did not help.
• I have installed and reinstalled ID, and that did not help.
• I have rebooted  SO MANY times
• I have tried to delete my font cache, but I get a message that it is in use even after I reboot.

I am a book designer and work on book interiors every day, and this is KILLING my workflow.

Any help with this issue would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

[Mike Witherell]

Hi Virginia,

Here is a compendium of troubleshooting that explores slowness and the multiple ways you can approach a reset of InDesign. There are so many things to try. You don't explicitly say, but is this one document or any/all documents?

[victoriawolf]

Hello,

Thanks for your reply. All documents. I find it hard to believe that I have to troubleshoot something that was never a problem before. But I will check of the document.

Thanks!

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@victoriawolf

How old is your file? When was the last time you've done SAVE AS with a new name?

Do you have auto-update on or InDesign? 

Try downgrading to a previous minor version - 20.2 or 20.1 or even 20.0? 

Unless, you were on 19.x and in March - you've been updated to 20.x? 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@victoriawolf

And - in which version of InDesign your INDD file has been created - and last used by you?

And does this slowdown happens with every document? Even a new, blank document - with minimal contents? 

How big is your document - it terms if pages, number of images, amount of text - and size in MBs? 

Do you use GREP Styles? 

[victoriawolf]

The file is brand new, just started, and I had the issue as soon as I edited a style.

I have not tried downgrading, as that would be a big crimp in my workload, as I always am opening older files. I believe I would need to resave them, if they will even open in the lower version.

I apply every update when it becomes available.

Thanks!

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@victoriawolf

Going back to earlier MINOR version - 20.3 -> 20.2 - shouldn't be a problem.

Can you share your file - I could take a look? Please click my nickname if you prefer to send it privately. 

[victoriawolf]

I just started a new file and created a Paragraph style, and it immediately started hesitating when working through the styling elements. This is how it starts, and then it will get to a point that it takes almost a minute to make any paragraph style change. Then I close and restart and get back to slow, but more bearabl,e and start the pattern all over again.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@victoriawolf

What font?

[victoriawolf]

It does not matter which font I am using. 99% of the time, it is an Adobe-activated font.

[rob day]

Hi @victoriawolf , Are you running any plugis? Any font management plugins  (i.e. FontAgent)? Are your docment fonts installed in your local System, or are you using any Adobe Fonrs (Path lister as Activated from Adobe Fonts in Find Font)

[victoriawolf]

Rob, no plugins, and I only activate Adobe fonts for Adobe products, not system-wide.

[rob day]

no plugins, and I only activate Adobe fonts for Adobe products, not system-wide.

Can you share a file that has the delays?

[rob day]

no plugins, and I only activate Adobe fonts for Adobe products, not system-wide.

Can you share a file that has the delays?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

no plugins, and I only activate Adobe fonts for Adobe products, not system-wide.

Can you share a file that has the delays?

By @rob day

I've asked 5h ago 😉 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

no plugins, and I only activate Adobe fonts for Adobe products, not system-wide.

Can you share a file that has the delays?

[victoriawolf]

Hello,

The document is very small, and it happens with every document. Big files, small files, it does not care. I have not tried starting a new document and adding the styles. I will try that and see what happens.

No GREP style used.

Thanks!

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@victoriawolf

Are you working locally - or through some cloud service, VPN, your files are saved on a server - or external USB connected drive?

[victoriawolf]

Locally, always.

[Mike Witherell]

Try a thorough reset. The link i provided includes a lot of subtle insight as to which one of 4 methods to apply. Be sure to export all your settings first (which is a relatively new feature).

P.S. I salute your PageMaker heritage.

[victoriawolf]

Thank you! It does sound like a total reset is needed.

PageMaker was amazing for the time and what allowed me to step into this 33 year career.

[Barb Binder]

Hi @victoriawolf:

I don't see that this has been addressed yet:

• I have installed and reinstalled ID, and that did not help.

Uninstalling InDesign leaves remnants the the program behind. The InDesign cache/preferences files can become corrupt over time and cause unexpected behaviors and these will stick around after a regular uninstall.

When InDesign starts misbehaving, I would either:

• Rebuild cache/preferences (https://www.rockymountaintraining.com/adobe-indesign-rebuilding-preferences-cache/), or
• Uninstall using the Adobe CC Cleaner tool (https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html) before reinstalling with the CC desktop app.

~Barb

[victoriawolf]

Thank you!! I will try this and see what happens. Victoria

[cecyfernandes]

You managed to solve the problem. I didn't!!! Thank you.

[victoriawolf]

No, I am still dealing with the issue. I wish it was solved.

[Eugene Tyson]

Out of curiousity - can you try change the font throughout your document to something else. 

Make a duplicate of your file

In the Type menu you can go to Find/Replace fonts and completely replace all the fonts with something generic like Arial or Myriad or something standard.

Then see if the issue persists.

This will definitely rule out if it's the Font causing the issue. 

[victoriawolf]

It happens with any font I use, which is typically an Adobe font. The only time I use non-Adobe fonts is when the client supplies files designed by someone else that they need edited, which happens rarely.