Why are InDesign text frames uneditable, or converted to outlined objects, when opened in CS4?

[Martha Dayton]

When opening a CS3 Layout in CS4 to make client text changes, all the text frame box edges (on their appropriate layers) are shown as dotted lines, and none of the type is editable!

I restored the old version, and opened in CS3 old version, and the same thing applies! Arggggh - there must be a frame preference that I don't know about or an instruction accidentally given.

How do I convert the text boxes back to editable regions? Got a deadline and am miffed.

I am a 20 year veteran of Pagemaker/Indesign/CS and this has never happened to me before!

[cynthiamocek]

It sounds like they got converted to outlines (Type > Create Outlines) at some point - possibly to curb a font issue.  As far as I know, there is no way to undo this, you'll need to retype it all, or find the earliest version possible!

[Scott Falkner · Accepted solution]

Dotted lines for frame edges means that the item is on the Master Page. That’s why you can’t edit items, because they are on the Master, not on the numbered page. Either Command-Shift-click on the object to edit it or edit it on the Master Page. You should find out why so much of the document was built on the Master Page. Either the designer meant this to be a template for multiple existing or future pages, or someone just wasn’t paying attention and didn’t realize they were designing on the Master.

[emmausKLM]

I've been having the same problem trying to edit several items on a purchased template. Ctrl-Shift-Click works perfectly. Thanks Scott Falkner!

[catherines10738220]

you are a genius!

[ernestl64767113]

You deserve a cookie, worked like charm

[briann175]

thanks so much.

[BobLevine]

Sounds like everything was either a: converted to outlines, b: grouped and locked, C: on a master page.

If it's a, you're pretty much screwed.

Bob

[Nick Gammon]

Just had the same problem thanks! Ctrl-Shift-Click works