Unable to copy and paste in InDesign

[LinnéaSweden]

I have been working with a project in Indesign all day but the last few hours the copy/paste-function doesn´t work at all. I can´t copy text or pictures within the project or from Word. The copy/paste function seems gone. What has happened?

{Renamed by MOD}

[Anshul_Saini]

Hi there,

Sorry about the inconvenience. Could you please share a few more details like:

• Which OS and InDesign is this?
• Is the issue happening while working on a specific document? If yes, could you please share the document with us? You can upload it to the Creative Cloud (https://helpx.adobe.com/in/creative-cloud/help/share.html) and share the download link.
• When did this start happening? Are there any recent changes made to your system? For example, any antivirus, system updates, or web extensions installed recently.

Also, you may try running the app in safe mode (https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/start-safe-boot-mode-mac.html) and see how it works there.

Looking forward to your response.

Thanks & Regards,

Anshul Saini

[Lynn5FDD]

I'd  like to add that we have recently encounted Copy/Paste issues since the last InDesing update. We are using Windows and copy from PowerPoint. The Title in the attached example pasted over with a large space between the year and the parenthesis. The source doesn't have the space. Once an image in InDesign, we can't correct. This was not a problem prior to the recent update.  Please advise. 

Thank you,

Lynn

[Anshul_Saini]

Hi there,

Sorry about the trouble and delayed response. Are you still facing this issue? If yes, I would request you to share a few more details:

• Exact OS and version of InDesign
• Is the issue happening with specific PowerPoint and InDesign documents? If yes, could you please share both documents with us? You can upload it to the Creative Cloud (https://helpx.adobe.com/in/creative-cloud/help/share.html) and share the download link here or via DM.
• Where are you saving the files (Network Drive/ System HDD/ Shared Folder on System/ External HDD)?
• Please check if there aren't any hidden characters included in the Powerpoint file. Then, try copy-pasting it in any other apps such as Adobe Photoshop/ Illustrator) or Microsoft Word/Excel, and see if the same thing is happening there as well.

Kindly update the discussion if you still need assistance with it. We'd be happy to help.

Thanks & Regards,
Anshul Saini

[LinnéaSweden · Accepted solution]

It seems like everything is working correctly when I updated to the latest version of Indesign!

[Anshul_Saini]

Glad to hear you're back on track. Please feel free to reach out if you run into any other questions or issues in the future. We'd be happy to help.

Regards,

Anshul Saini

[Nadja32974202efix]

Hi, I am currently having the same problem. Version 19.5 on windows. I can not copy paste through shortcuts not even from the edit menu, it is the dull gray color that I can not click on. Not only paste from outside, I can not copy paste within, or copy in indesign and paste outside the program. So the issue is still present in this newer versions.

[Laubender]

Hi @Nadja32974202efix ,

this thread is four years old. I'd suggest you open a new thread describing your problem.

My guess is, that some other app is interfering with InDesign. Please also state your operating system and version; also the hardware.

Thanks,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[Geоrge]

Some offtop here -

I don't like any copy/paste things from word. Did you ever try to place word file? (CTRL+D). 

And some tips about - https://creativepro.com/retaining-important-formatting-when-importing-word-documents/

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Have you tried restarting InDesign?

[Lynn5FDD]

Yes. One of my colleagues isn't experiencing this problem and she has not accepted the latest InDesign update. Can you investigate if that could be the cause?

Thank you!

[LinnéaSweden]

It seems like everything is working correctly when I updated to the latest version of Indesign!

[Laubender]

Hi Lynn,

I'm on Windows 10 with my German InDesign 2021 version 16.3.0.24.

Just did some tests with copy/paste from PowerPoint to InDesign.

For now I cannot see an issue. Could you share a sample PowerPoint file where you see the issue?

Just put in on Dropbox or a similar service and post the link.

Thanks,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[Lukas Engqvist]

Please be careful about copy/pasting images from word. Pasting other content than text from indesign can be a tricky part. If you place a word file images can be brought in as  embedded inline graphics. If you paste an image from word or the clipboard you may end up with an image that is embedded but does not appear in your links dialog box. These kind of images can cause crashing or failure to print, and are not visible to InDesign preflight. It is better to extract these images as files and place them in InDesign. If you want them embedded then do so from the links panel after having placed them rather than pasted. 

[carla27733456iydi]

I hope this saves every one a headache. I resolved this issue by going to Indesign preferences, under general and then to clipboard handling. You make sure that both boxes of "prefer PDF when pasting" and "copy PDF to clipboard" then select OK. That should solve it immediately.