Toolbar and constrain proportions not working after InDesign 19.5 update

[marco lombardi]

After updating InDesign to version 19.5.0.84 on iMac running OS Sonoma 14.5, the toolbar no longer works. E.g. you can select an option e.g. Rectangle frame tool but cannot add a rectangle to the page. You have to copy and paste an object from a previous InDesign document. And all objects - rectangles, ovals, text automatically constrain proportions proportions, without the constrain icon being selected.

I have:

– tried advanced, essential and other modes (problem persists)

– reset preferences using keyboard shortcuts, as well as InDesign's Preferences > General > Reset Preferences on Quit

– deleted and reinstalled InDesign

– reset preferences again

The issue with any tool that is selected from the toolbar not drawing on, or adding content to a page - Type tool, Pen tool, Rectangle frame tool… and all other tools still persists.

I have ample Ram on the iMac, and when testing the same document  on a different Mac running an older version of InDesign, it is OK, so I assume the issue is related to version 19.5.

Any other options to try resolve this would be great.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I'm not a Mac user so can't give you specifics - but sometimes people suggest to also "clear cache". 

[HARSHIKA_VERMA]

Hi @marco lombardi,

We are sorry to hear you're experiencing an issue with the 19.5 update. In addition to what our expert has suggested, a few more details would be  super helpful-

• Please share a screen recording of the issue for better understanding, as we are unable to reproduce the issue.
• Does that happen with every file or with a specific file?
• Please also try with a new file.

Let us know if that helps. We'll be happy to assist you further.

Thanks,

Harshika

[marco lombardi]

Hi Harshika,

Here's a screen recording. Before recording, I deleted InDesign, installed earlier versions and each version from 19.4.0.63 to the version this recording was made with 19.0.0.151 all reproduce the same errors.

https://go.screenpal.com/watch/cZiZboVPxp1

– None of the tools are active on a page.
– Objects are constrained when changing a size with constrain not selected
– This is the same on newly created documents and documents that were previously working without any issues.

Hope that helps

[Mike Witherell]

Here is a compendium of troubleshooting advice:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/reset-indesign-preferences-and-other-troubleshoo...

[marco lombardi]

Thanks Mike,

I had previously checked the troubleshooting advice and followed the steps. Additionally have also deleted and decativated any fonts that I was no longer using. Plus have manually deleted Adobe and other older application preferences which the troubleshooting advice was a great help to do.

I think the issue is related to the integrated AI functionality recently added, because all 19 versions I installed to test individually had the same issue.

Fortunately InDesign 18.5.3 is working and I just had to convert newer files to open in this version. So far that seems to be doing the trick, and I have turned off Auto Updates.

I will need to upgrade again at some point but for now this at least means I can get work done.

[leo.r]

Also, try to create a clean new user account in System Settings > Users & Groups and work from there. Will it make a difference?

[Mike Witherell]

Tools cannot operate on a page if the active layer is locked. Did you check your document for a locked layer?