Text frames and parent page elements disappear

[markgerber]

Indesign 2023 ( 18.5.1.79)

MacOS 12.7.1

Problem:

• Text frames and parent page elements disappearing on several spreads.
• This is not a case of the text disappearing from the frame; the frame itself is collapsed or otherwise not selectable. The text frame is not overset.
• The text is still visible in the story editor.

I have a document that has suddenly developed a strange issue. In a few places, the text frame thread goes from a right page’s frame to the middle of the next spread (text frame is not visible, only the right facing triangle), exits from the same point and goes to the top left of the next spread’s text frame.

Imagine a spread with pages 46 and 47. The text thread exits lower right of page 47’s frame, goes to middle of the spread with pages 48-49 to a small blue right triangle (frames and parent page elements missing), exits that triangle to enter the text frame at the top left of the pages 50-51 spread where the text and parent page elements continue. (Images attached.)

In some cases there are three and even five spreads with missing elements.

The text is deleted and is visible in the story editor.

Has anyone seen anything like this? It's new to me.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Mark

[markgerber]

Correction: I said "The text is deleted and is visible in the story editor." In fact, it is not deleted and is visible in the story editor.

[Barb Binder]

Hi @markgerber:

I have definitely seen a variation of this on a pretty regular basis. Usually paging up and then paging back takes care of it. There is also a shortcut that you might try: Cmd+Opt+/.

If neither takes care of it, then I would suspect corruption in the file:
https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/kb/troubleshoot-file-issues.html

Or in InDesign itself:
https://www.rockymountaintraining.com/adobe-indesign-rebuilding-preferences-cache/

~Barb

[markgerber]

Thanks, Barb.

I've had several instances of "unexpectedly quit" issues this weekend, so it's very likely some corruption somewhere. I was able to restore from DropBox and earlier version of the file that didn't seem to have this problem (yet, he said). What does Cmd+Opt+/ do? I tried it in a new ID doc but I think another app is capturing those keystrokes.

Mark

[Barb Binder]

Hi @markgerber:

Cmd+Opt+/ (Ctrl+Alt+/ on Windows) forces the recomposition or reflow of all the stories. It's an obscure shortcut, but I need it every once in a while.

So glad to hear that you were able to access a backup of the file. I wish more people would take it advantage of the automatic incremental back ups available through dropbox (and other cloud services). It would save a lot of heartache.

~Barb