Search selection option missing

[kyriosity]

This happens sporadically when I'm trying to do a find-and-replace -- I want to search just the selection, but it does not give me that option. Any clues? (The search terms are just spaces as I attempt to tidy up the original formatting.)

[Steve Werner · Accepted solution]

I can't ever remember not seeing Selection as an search option when I had a selection.

Have you tried restoring your InDesign preferences?

https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/setting-preferences.html#restore_all_preferences_and_default_...

[kyriosity]

Yep, that ended up fixing it. Since trashing preferences seems to be the solution for 90% of problems, I truly wish Adobe would figure out a way to, well, not have to trash EVERYTHING. It's such an interruption to workflow to have to reset interface, rebuild recently used font and file lists, etc. Could any of those be incorporated into another function, e.g., workspace, to protect them?

[Barb Binder]

Hi Kyriosity:

You could back up the various preferences files now, while everything is working. Next time you need to rebuild the files you could just trash them, and then copy over today's versions.

~Barb

[kyriosity]

Hunting for that info every time is just as time-consuming as rebuilding all the preferences. Since it's so often necessary, I'd love to see it built into the reset process. Automatic backups of preferences, then "Reset to [select date]" when needed.

[Barb Binder]

I hear you, kyriosity.

This is a user-to-user forum (Steve and I are users, like you) so this is best communicated to Adobe via the InDesign user voice page. We can help with explaining software features and workflows, but we have no control over the software design.

Adobe InDesign Feedback

~Barb

[kyriosity]

Yeah...but the Adobe folks often check in here, so I figure it's worth a little wailing about it here, too in case others want to join the chorus.

[Steve Werner]

Don't count on waiting until "it's fixed." Every Adobe application I use (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and now that I'm beginning to learn about video apps like Premiere Pro require you to reset preferences when the software gets screwed up.

Barb's suggestion is a good one. Just keep a folder in your backup location. You do have a backup location, right?

[kyriosity]

Yeah, I know better than to expect a quick fix!

[Steve Werner]

The best place to get the attention of the InDesign product managers and engineers is not in the forums (which they read only infrequently) but the InDesign User Voice website here. Make a feature request there and they will see it and others can vote for it:

Adobe InDesign Feedback

[kyriosity]

Aaaaaand it's already happening again the very next day.