What is this mysterious text area?

[Thomas_Calvin]

Hi all.

I'm trying to understand the formatting of some docs I've inherited, and I'm new to InDesign.

I don't understand what I'm dealing with in the attached screen shot. There appear to be three columns, but the text frame has only one. The area(s) containing the text are part of the text frame (they disappear when the text frame is hidden or deleted), but can't be selected in the layer view.

And, as you can see, the mystery area exists outside the text frame itself. What might this be?

Note: The other objects in the layer list are on a facing page, out of view.

[Thomas_Calvin]

That's understandable from a technical perspective. It all would have been a lot clearer if table properties had shown up in the panel when the insertion point was in the table. I "reported" that on Adobe's feedback site, for what that's worth.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

What panel are you referring to? The Control panel shows extra settings depending on the size/resolution of your monitor, and the Table panel certainly "lights up" when in a table.

[Thomas_Calvin]

Huh, now I'm curious about what panel you mean. I mean the Properties one on the right. Here's a screen shot of what mine looks like when the insertion point is sitting in a table cell:

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

What panel are you referring to? The Control panel shows extra settings depending on the size/resolution of your monitor, and the Table panel certainly "lights up" when in a table.

By @Dave Creamer of IDEAS

When text cursor is in the Cell - InDesign doesn't show anything related to the Cell / Table. 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Yes, it does. You won't see anything on the Control panel unless you have a very large/uHD monitor. On my 27 in 4k monitor, it showed extra settings at the far right end. The Table panel certainly activates.

In text, not table:

Cursor in a cell:

See the difference?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Yes, it does. You won't see anything on the Control panel unless you have a very large/uHD monitor. On my 27 in 4k monitor, it showed extra settings at the far right end. The Table panel certainly activates. [...]

By @Dave Creamer of IDEAS

I'm on the laptop - and even if I'll hide Character and Paragraph - nothing about the Table shows up - when cursor is just in the Cell:

But there are properties - after I select Cell(s):

I don't have too much estate area so my Table panel was hidden 😉

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Little more digging:

Turning ON Tables + Paragraph properties - only Tables are shown:

Turning ON Tables + Character properties - both are present:

Turning ON Paragraph only - empty:

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Obviously, if you turn off some of the Control panel's settings, you will make room for the Table. 

Also, you have multiple cells selected--we were originally discussing the text cursor in a cell, not selecting a cell.

[Thomas_Calvin]

Thanks for the replies. I didn't turn any panels off, and I have a dual-monitor setup. There's plenty of room.

Depending on what's selected, sections are added to the Properties pane vertically and you can scroll through them. So I don't see what monitor real-estate has to do with it.

And that is what my properties panel looks like when I have the insertion point in a cell. I didn't make a new screen shot for that condition, since the panel didn't change from when I posted it previously (I guess in a different thread).

[Thomas_Calvin]

And, even if InDesign wants to add a tab to the Properties-pane area instead of an inline section, you can see in the screen shot that there's still room for another tab.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

I don't use the Properties panel--the Control panel and individual panels are much more efficient. 

You say you have multiple monitors, but is Control panel running across BOTH of them, or do you use the other monitor for other panels. 

[Thomas_Calvin]

Thanks. I don't know what the "control panel" is; it's not evident in the default layout. If by "individual panels" you mean floating palettes, I will not work with those covering up what I'm trying to see. There's plenty of room in the Properties area, and it usually shows controls appropriate to what is selected. That should hold true for tables.

I have two monitors with plenty of real estate each; when I use both for InDesign it's because I'm using two documents at once. Adobe doesn't show properties in each window or even swap the pane to the active one, which is lame.

Anyway... I even tried switching to "Advanced" workspace, and still nothing table-related appears with the insertion point in the table.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Thomas_Calvin

Control panel is the part right under the Menu - please check my latest screenshots. 

And I have exactly the same effect as you - no info related to the table - when just text cursor is in the Cell. 

@Dave Creamer of IDEAS

No offence 😉 but, just in case, to confirm that we are all on the same page - could you please post a screenshot with your control panel - when text cursor is in a Cell?

[Thomas_Calvin]

Thanks! OK, control panel = toolbar.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

@Thomas_Calvin Technically, the Toolbar is on the left side. The Control panel is on top. (arrows)

@Robert at ID-Tasker My table properties are in the red rectagle area. No much, but the do show. I don't use them there however, I use the other panels.

@Thomas_Calvin Note how I have my screen layout setup. The Table Styles, Cell Styles, and Table panels are in the red oval. I simple expand them when needed. The stack of panels is my "misc." panels, that I just open up as needed. This image shows the table-related panels open. 

I find the Properties panel doesn't give you easy access to all the settings, making more work in the long run and taking up too much space. Of course, your mileage may vary...

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Robert at ID-Tasker My table properties are in the red rectagle area. No much, but the do show. I don't use them there however, I use the other panels.

By @Dave Creamer of IDEAS

But as per my earlier screenshots - I've turned OFF Chars and Paras - and I have only an empty space?

Another UI bug?? All or nothing??

I use a very similar setup 😉

Red part is hidden and only specific panels are shown when needed - laptop  😉

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Obviously, if you turn off some of the Control panel's settings, you will make room for the Table. 

Also, you have multiple cells selected--we were originally discussing the text cursor in a cell, not selecting a cell.

By @Dave Creamer of IDEAS

I HAVE the room - but InDesign won't show Table properties - 1st screenshot in the previous to previous reply - and yes - text cursor is in the cell:

[leo.r]

I can confirm what @Robert at ID-Tasker reports: when the insertion point is inside a cell, nothing specifically table-related appears in the Control panel.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I'm on Win10 and ID 20.0

@leo.r - you're on a Mac - but what about InDesign?

@Dave Creamer of IDEAS - Windows - but which version of ID? 

@Thomas_Calvin - I think you're on Windows as well - but which version of InDesign?

[Thomas_Calvin]

InDesign 20.2, Windows 11

[leo.r]

InDesign 20.2, screenshots from 27" 4K, but it's the same on 16" 5K laptop, too.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

I should just say "the latest" and drive everyone crazy!

ID: 20.2

Windows 11; 24H2; KB5053656