Why does the text not flow in a InDesign textbox?

[JRJJLH44]

Hi all,

I understand that text box has boundaries but why does sometimes a text not flow in the textbox properly? For example, there is space for certain words to appear on the 1st line (e.g. breaches), but they choose to be on 2nd line, to bring it up to the space on 1st line you have to use the enter key after the words and they appear on the 1st line (see below).

Is there something that can be done to make the text flow?

What is causing this in an inherited document?

Is it because the text is copy pasted from a Word file, etc?

Looking forward in hearing your answers!

Thank you.

[Steve Werner]

Create a screen capture with Type > Show Hidden Characters turned on so we can see if there are any special characters (paragraph returns, soft returns, etc.) in the text coming from Word.

Also select the frame and choose Object > Text Frame Options. There could be settings in this dialog which could affect text flow (for example, inset spacing).

[JRJJLH44 · Accepted solution]

Hi Steve,

Apologies. I have resolved it somehow by using a different paragraph styles present in the inherited InDesign file. I could not recreate the above screenshot. Do you know what may cause this problem?

[Scott Citron]

There are lots of reasons that this behavior might happen. I've encountered this same problem a few times myself. As Steve Werner suggested, when investigating this issue it's essential to view your text with all hidden characters displayed (Type > Show Hidden Characters). The problem could be related to Break characters, GREP styles, or frame properties, among many other reasons. Sorry, but this can often be a hard problem to fix, and there is unfortunately no easy one-stop solution for every time this happens.

[JRJJLH44]

Hi Scott,

I will keep a note to myself when I encounter the problem again. Thank for providing a few pointers on what to check for when this happens again. I agree with you, sometimes it is alright and only a handful times I come across this issue. Thank you again, your answer has been very helpful!

[Eugene Tyson]

Typically i see this when the "Balance Ragged Lines" is ticked on.

https://indesignsecrets.com/when-to-use-balance-ragged-lines.php

[JRJJLH44]

Hi Eugene,

I will check this when it happens again. Appreciate you highlighting the option that causes this to occur inside text boxes.

Your link is helpful! Appreciate it. Thank you.

[Willi Adelberger]

Adobe Paragraph Composer (which is default) tries to break lines and hyphenations to get an overall best composing over all lines in a paragraph. So you might get different breaks, if you add in a later line a word or changes other things. I think you would get a different, but worse, result if you change in your paragraph style from paragraph composer to the single line composer.

[JRJJLH44]

Hi Willi,

I understand. I would rather have it copy paste all the way through and not have the InDesign break it down for me as they look odd at times. I dont mind the hyphenations as I can control them in paragraph style properties. Noted on this, it is something to keep an eye on next time a similar issue arises.

Thank you for your time and appreciate your tremendous help in helping me figure this out.

Learned a lot of new things from you, Scott and Eugene today!