Select object

[authentic_character0D4D]

Hi, I noticed that when I click inside an object with outline only it selects the object. It didn't use to do that. In order to select it you had to click on the outline only. Do you know how can I revert that?

[Laubender · Accepted solution]

Hi Theo,

it depends of the tool that created the object.

Basically it's the difference between the tools that have "frame" in the name and the ones with similar names not containing the word "frame". Like the Rectangle Frame tool vs the Rectangle tool. The rectangle you have done with the Rectangle tool is the one you cannot select when you click inside if there is no fill color. The one done with the Rectangle Frame tool are selectable inside even if there is no fill:

You could convert between the three kind of frames, Text, Graphic and Unassigned.

So you want to convert from Graphic to Unassigned.

Select the object and go to:

Object > Content > and choose Unassigned

FWIW: A text frame's story must not contain any text if you want to convert it to Graphic or Unassigned.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[authentic_character0D4D]

Thanks a lot for the fast answer

[Steve Werner]

That's not happening to me with InDesign 2022 (version 17.1) and macOS Monterey 12.2.1. The only way I know to select an object which has a fill of None and a stroke color is to either click on the edge of the object, or to click on the center point. Can you tell us more information about your system (operating system) and InDesign version? Does this happen with just one file, or on other files you try? 

[Steve Werner]

Ah, I forgot about the different behavior of a frame tool, Uwe has it correct.

[Laubender]

Hi Theo,

I know, InDesign's UX is very confusing here.

There are also implications when using object styles with the different types of frames.

Read into this article by David Blatner:

InDesign’s Three Kinds of Frames: Text, Graphic, and Unassigned
David Blatner, January 13, 2011
https://creativepro.com/indesigns-three-kinds-of-frames-text-graphic-and-unassigned/

To quote David:

"I’m really, really hoping that in a future version of InDesign, we will have three default object styles: text, graphic, and unassigned — which would get applied automatically when you create a new frame of each of these types."

Well, this article is from 2011. Ten years on now nothing has changed…

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[Dustie3778022065x6]

select object tool does it for ya... if you want more than one person, hold down shift and click extra objects.