Can't select right indent in tabs panel.

[GMDS Learner]

I am trying to create dot leader tabs in InDesign for a program. When I open tabs and click right indent arrow in the upper left corner of the Tabs window it won't allow me to select it. It becomes dark gray when I roll over it but does nothing when I click it. Is there something I am missing or that I should be doing?

[Steve Werner]

Let's make sure you're doing the steps correctly. Here's a diagram of the three steps to make tab leaders:

[Steve Werner]

And before that, you actually need a tab character in the text like this:

And the text has to be selected before the first steps I showed you. You can see that the text is highlighted.

[GMDS Learner]

Well, I did the steps up to step 3. I can't select the right justified tab.

1. Inserted a tab character.

2. Selected the text.

3. The problem starts when I attempt to select right justified tab.

I was hoping there was something I was overlooking. Ever heard of this before?

[Steve Werner]

I could be a general InDesign problem: Two common troubleshooting methods:

(1) If it only happens in one file, the file may be corrupted. You need to save it as IDML and reopen the IDML file:

Clean corrupt files by exporting to .IDML or .INX

(2) If it happens in more than one file, try restoring your InDesign preferences (section on Restoring Preferences):

Set preferences in Adobe InDesign

[GMDS Learner]

Completed (1). I saved as IDML and still could not select right justified tab.

Completed (2) I held down shift>control>option>command while opening InDesign, then clicked "yes" to clear preferences. The problem still occurred.

Do you think I should uninstall and reinstall the software?

[Steve Werner]

It's pretty easy to uninstall and reinstall InDesign. I'd try that.

[GMDS Learner]

Trying that now. Do you think the next best thing is to contact support if it still doesn't work?

[Steve Werner]

Of course, that is worth a try.

Let's also see what other ideas pop up here on the forum.

[Steve Werner]

You could also post a copy of the text you're having problems with and post so it could be downloaded from a server (like Creative Cloud files or Dropbox) so others can test it out.

[GMDS Learner]

Here is a copy of the block of text  I am working with:

Microsoft OneDrive - Access files anywhere. Create docs with free Office Online.

[GMDS Learner · Accepted solution]

I think I figured it out. I was able to access the right justify arrow in the paragraph style.

[Steve Werner]

Let us know if you need any more help, Good luck.

[GMDS Learner]

Thanks so much!

[marthap69753823]

Hi,

I actually have the same problem and I did solve it the same way as GMDS_Learner did; however, I am still wondering why the Tab bar doesn't work. I used to work with the Tab bar for the TOCs because it is quite confortable and a straight way to get job done, but sudently it didn't work anymore. Am I missing something?

[lestatdelc]

I am having this same issue. There definatley seems to be a problem here that is not being fixed.

[Peter Spier]

What version of InDesign and OS are you using? It seems to be working correctly here in CC2021 which is what I have open at the moment...

[lestatdelc]

CC2022 (17.5) on Mac Big Sur (11.6.5).

It doesn't seem to be occuring all the time, but in some text frames in some documents, which is why it is so frustrating as there seems to be no rhyme or reason as to when it will not work. 

[Peter Spier]

Have you tried resetting the prefs? Reset InDesign Preferences and Other Troubleshooting 

[lestatdelc]

Yes. No joy. Again, the problem is nto consitient, and can occur with an indivudal text frame within a document, whereas the tab bar works fine in a different text frame within the same document.

[Peter Spier]

That sort of wierdness can sometimes be cured by exporting to .idml, opeing that and saving as a new .indd.