Soft Return Problems

[theresad47791615]

Hi all, looking for help here:

When my co-worker enters a soft return (say, for example, in order to line up text below a bullet) InDesign puts in a hard return...well, actually more than a hard return, it adds a whole lot of space.

When he shows hidden characters, it isn't a paragraph symbol, it isn't a down arrow, it's more of a down carat...

We can't figure it out... Suggestions?

[BobLevine]

The solution is to not use soft returns. If you can tell us why you think you need them we can provide better advice.

Lining text up under a bullet is done through the bullets and numbering feature and setting indents and tabs properly.

[theresad47791615]

Yeah...no...

We use soft returns. I am not looking to teach the entire company a different method. And, it's not just bullets...sometimes it's necessary to force a return for other reasons.

I need to solve this issue, not use another method

[maxwithdax]

Hi Theresa,

While I understand your situation and have been there myself in employment situations where things are "just done this way," There is no escaping the fact that the method they are using is an incorrect method that causes more problems than it solves and is never necessary.

I completely get that now is probably not the time to "train" anyone on the finer points of proper paragraph settings, please know that everything can be adjusted with the correct paragraph, hyphenation and and "keep" settings. Understanding how to use the tools the correct way is always preferred. It's like getting that word document where someone used 50 spaced to line up text instead of setting tabs.

That being said.. lets address your request. You stated "We can't figure it out... Suggestions?"

Can you clarify what you are asking?

1. If you hold down Shift when pressing return, this is a soft return.

2. Without seeing your paragraph settings or a screenshot we cannot give you advice as to what is happening. Things like line spacing, hidden characters, "keep with" options, balanced lines and space-before and space-after are all things that can add extra space between lines.

More information will help us solve your current issue of what is happening with your text.

- Thanks

Dax

[BobLevine]

Fine, but I preface this with, you’re only going to be piling one bad procedure on top of another.

Turn off the paragraph composer and use the single line composer.

[theresad47791615]

I do that. I cannot for the life of me understand why InDesign even has that! It makes no sense to not give the designer total control of this.

[BobLevine]

  wrote

I do that. I cannot for the life of me understand why InDesign even has that! It makes no sense to not give the designer total control of this.

WHAT?

[maxwithdax]

um..yeah.. faulty keyboard does not produce a down carrot. LOL. But glad it got solved.

[Derek Cross]

You'll will (almost) always be told the correct way to do things on these forums. You can't expect to be given the slovenly way!

[FRIdNGE]

Theresa,

If it's what I think, you're not wrong! …

Best,

Michel, for FRIdNGE

[Laubender · Accepted solution]

theresad47791615  wrote

…When he shows hidden characters, it isn't a paragraph symbol, it isn't a down arrow, it's more of a down carat...

We can't figure it out... Suggestions?

I think, I know what it is.

Your co-worker is hitting the Enter key on the Num Pad of the keyboard.

That will insert a special character, a Column Break character, that forces every text, that comes after to the next column of a text frame or, if there is only one column in the text frame, to the next text frame in the story or to overset, if there is no next text text frame.

Are you seeing this special character?

To avoid this use the Return key of the keyboard.

Regards,
Uwe

[maxwithdax]

Uwe,

I bet you're right. Now that I re-read her comment, the "down carrot" was the dead giveaway. Good catch!

[theresad47791615]

Thanks all, it actually turned out to be a faulty keyboard!!! We swapped it out and all is good! Thanks for the input and suggestions.

[theresad47791615]

Well thanks everyone for the snarky remarks and no real help. Thought this would be a good way to get some assistance, guess I was wrong, seems more like a place for you all to feel superior.

Have a blessed day.

[Laubender]

Hi Theresa,

please provide a screenshot of the text frame selected where all hidden characters and frame edges are showing.

Without that all we can do is only guess what's going on.

Thanks,
Uwe

[maxwithdax]

Actually Theresa, we spent quite a bit of time helping you. Providing solutions, troubleshooting your question and in the end solving it. Your last comment that it was a faulty keyboard makes no sense since you clearly stated:

When he shows hidden characters, it isn't a paragraph symbol, it isn't a down arrow, it's more of a down carat...

And that "down carrot" is the reveal code for column break as was shown by Laubender. He provided you the correct solution to your problem to which you replied... Nope....was just a bad keyboard. (and thus my comment).

We are always willing to help. And as Uwe stated, screenshots really help us troubleshoot issues more than descriptions like "it adds a whole lot of space."

We are sorry if you felt we were somehow making you feel small. I assure you no one here has that intent.

- Dax