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communicationsc85269707
communicationsc85269707
Participating Frequently
February 26, 2021
Answered

Unnecessary Overset Text

  • February 26, 2021
  • 5 replies
  • 2168 views

I am working with InDesign and since the latest update to version 16.1 I have had all of my text boxes, in every file behave strangely. When I type in new text, it automatically jumps out of the box and becomes overset. In some cases I can change this in Story Editor, or by copying and pasting the hidden character for a return, but not in all cases.
As you can see from the screenshot, the text frame has ample room, and yet there is still overset text.

  • Adobe Indesign Creative Cloud version 16.1 (I've tried rolling back the update, it didn't help)
  • Windows 10 PC, Version 10.0.19041
  • Basic Paragraph style
  • Text frame set to "Ignore Text Wrap"
This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Barb Binder

It looks like you are adding column breaks here and there. In InDesign, the Enter key on the main part of the keyboard will create a hard return (¶) but the Enter key on the numeric keypad will create a column break (a down pointing ^).

 

It's best to work with Type > Show Hidden Characters enabled so you can see them and remove them. Was that the issue?

~Barb

 

5 replies

Barb Binder
Community Expert
Barb BinderCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 1, 2021

I'm still puzzling over this—the layout you linked to is different from the file you are showing. And in your file, there is a hard return after Food & Catering Options, but in the file you linked to, it's a line break (as described above).

 

~Barb 

~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
communicationsc85269707
communicationsc85269707Author
Participating Frequently
March 1, 2021

I had continued to work on the document after posting the initial screenshot. I had found a workaround prior to your solution. I would copy and paste the appropriate hidden character where I needed it in order to correct the overset text. Thanks for your help, it seems to be working properly now.

 

I still have no idea why I haven't encountered this before. My keyboard setup and habits have not changed.

S
SueEllen0D4C
Participant
October 26, 2021

Hi There, 

I'm having the exact same problem, but am not clear on how you resolved it. Were you inadvertently entering column breaks? I've checked my text by showing invisible characters and there are no column breaks, just hard returns (I've also tried soft returns) so I'm hoping that it was something else. Which "appropriate hidden character" did you copy and paste that solved your problem?

Barb Binder
Community Expert
Barb BinderCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
March 1, 2021

It looks like you are adding column breaks here and there. In InDesign, the Enter key on the main part of the keyboard will create a hard return (¶) but the Enter key on the numeric keypad will create a column break (a down pointing ^).

 

It's best to work with Type > Show Hidden Characters enabled so you can see them and remove them. Was that the issue?

~Barb

 

~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
    communicationsc85269707
    communicationsc85269707Author
    Participating Frequently
    March 1, 2021

    Thank you! This appears to be the problem. I don't use column breaks so I've changed the setting for the Enter key on my numeric keypad in my keyboard shortcuts.

     

    I can't imagine how I have never encountered this problem before. I've used the same keyboard set up for years.

      vladan saveljic
      vladan saveljic
      Inspiring
      March 1, 2021

      could you share your file with us (dropbox or similar) or just the page that presents the problem you have described?

        communicationsc85269707
        communicationsc85269707Author
        Participating Frequently
        March 1, 2021

        I feel like I hit a keystroke somewhere along the way that caused a setting to change. I just can't find the way to set it back.
        https://1drv.ms/u/s!Akoy4utBrdgXv0rHUjy9md228Qhs?e=EaCkBA

        Jeff Witchel, ACI
        Community Expert
        Jeff Witchel, ACICommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        February 26, 2021

        Is there a Wrap applied to a nearby object? (Possibly an object hidden by your Story Efitor?) If yes, go to Object > Text Frame Options and check Ignore Text Wrap to the lower left in the window and click OK.

        communicationsc85269707
        communicationsc85269707Author
        Participating Frequently
        February 26, 2021

        Thanks for the suggestion, there are no other objects on top of or near abutting the frame. As I noted in my post, the frame is already set to "Ignore Text Wrap".

        S
        SJRiegel
        Legend
        February 26, 2021

        Does that last bit of text have a no-break attribute applied to it?

        communicationsc85269707
        communicationsc85269707Author
        Participating Frequently
        February 26, 2021

        I have tried applying the "no-break" attribute, it helps sometimes, but the next time I hit return for a new paragraph the new text is overset.

         

        S
        SJRiegel
        Legend
        February 26, 2021

        You want to not have the no-break attribute applied. It keeps all contiguous text with no-break applied on the same line. This will cause overset it the resulting string of characters is too long.

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