Adobe InDesign: Bugs
When filing a new bug, please provide:
- Version of Adobe InDesign, InCopy or InDesign Server
- Steps to reproduce the issues
- Expected result
- Actual result
- Test file, screenshot, video or GIF capturing the issue (optional)
- or
No existing idea results
- ~ No ideas found ~
7022 results found
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after cmd+D manually drawn frame does not match the placed image
If I place an image with cmd+D and then draw the frame manually with the mouse, the frame always has the same aspect ratio (3 to 4 landscape) and if I want to place an image in portrait format, the frame does not match the content. So far, this has always been the case without any extra setting or key combination. But now since a few days I can't achieve this again with any setting.
ChatGPT advises me to select ‘Fit frame to content’ in the frame fitting options or in the presettings, but this is no longer available for selection. Has this been deliberately changed or is this a silly new bug?
If I place an image with cmd+D and then draw the frame manually with the mouse, the frame always has the same aspect ratio (3 to 4 landscape) and if I want to place an image in portrait format, the frame does not match the content. So far, this has always been the case without any extra setting or key combination. But now since a few days I can't achieve this again with any setting.
ChatGPT advises me to select ‘Fit frame to content’ in the frame fitting options or in the presettings, but this is no longer available for…
1 vote -
Application Frame Sticks to One External Monitor and Fails to Move Between Monitors (Windows 11)
I am experiencing an issue with a user where the application frame is stuck on a specific external monitor. When I attempt to drag the window to another external monitor, it automatically reverts to its original position on the main monitor. I can minimize and drag the corners to adjust size of window but cannot move it over to other monitors. This behavior occurs across multiple workstations, and I have already attempted the following troubleshooting steps:
Ensured that all software is fully updated.
Restarted the device multiple times.
Adjusted the resolution settings and reinstalled display drivers.
Removed and reconnected external monitors.
Resetting preferences
Checking required system requirementsDespite these efforts, the issue persists.
I would appreciate any further assistance or insight into resolving this problem.
I am experiencing an issue with a user where the application frame is stuck on a specific external monitor. When I attempt to drag the window to another external monitor, it automatically reverts to its original position on the main monitor. I can minimize and drag the corners to adjust size of window but cannot move it over to other monitors. This behavior occurs across multiple workstations, and I have already attempted the following troubleshooting steps:
Ensured that all software is fully updated.
Restarted the device multiple times.
Adjusted the resolution settings and reinstalled display drivers.
Removed and reconnected external…1 vote -
Dropshadow > Size is limited to 0-144 points within scripting but you can enter higher numbers manually 0-1000 points
My understanding is indesign dropshadow effect needs to be updated for the option: size within the dropshadow panel to be able to accept 0 - 1000 points for scripts. You can input higher numbers within the size by doing it manually but not with scripts for whatever reason. It will only accepts 0-144 point or 2 inches within the code.
- Indesign CC 2025
- Run the attached script a 100 in height image and you'll get the error.
- On the dropshadow applied to have the distance 5.0 in and size 5.0
- Distance: 5.0 in and Size: 0.0694 in
- Script attached.
I have a script to automatically apply dropshadows and we have a formula where we take the height of the image and multiply that by 5% which gets placed in the Distance and Size. This works for smaller images but when there are larger images the number it puts into the distance works but the size seems to be limited to 2 inches. But if I do it manually it can go up to 13.8889″
for the sizeI get this error: ERROR in applyDropShadow: Error: Invalid value for set property ‘size’. Expected Unit (0 - 144 points), but received “5.0 in”. 13.8889 in = 1000 points
//@target "indesign"
//@targetengine "session"function isValidObject(obj) {
try {
return obj && obj.isValid;
} catch (e) {
return false;
}
}function applyDropShadowByHeightInInches(obj) {
if (!isValidObject(obj)) return;var doc = app.activeDocument; var originalH = doc.viewPreferences.horizontalMeasurementUnits; var originalV = doc.viewPreferences.verticalMeasurementUnits; try { // Switch the document to inches. doc.viewPreferences.horizontalMeasurementUnits = MeasurementUnits.INCHES; doc.viewPreferences.verticalMeasurementUnits = MeasurementUnits.INCHES; // geometricBounds => [y1, x1, y2, x2] in INCHES now. var bounds = obj.geometricBounds; var heightInches = Math.abs(bounds[2] - bounds[0]); // bottom - top // 5% of height in inches var dropShadowInches = heightInches * 0.05; // Apply the drop shadow var ds = obj.transparencySettings.dropShadowSettings; ds.mode = ShadowMode.DROP; ds.angle = 120; // Static angle ds.distance = dropShadowInches; // in inches ds.size = dropShadowInches; // same as distance ds.opacity = 35; // example opacity ds.noise = 2.5; // example noise % ds.xOffset = 0; ds.yOffset = 0; ds.spread = 0; } catch (e) { $.writeln("Error applying shadow: " + e); } finally { // Restore original measurement units doc.viewPreferences.horizontalMeasurementUnits = originalH; doc.viewPreferences.verticalMeasurementUnits = originalV; }}
function main() {
if (app.documents.length === 0) {
alert("No open documents.");
return;
}var doc = app.activeDocument; if (!isValidObject(doc)) { alert("Active document not valid."); return; } if (app.selection.length === 0) { alert("No objects selected."); return; } var count = 0; for (var i = 0; i < app.selection.length; i++) { var obj = app.selection[i]; if (isValidObject(obj)) { applyDropShadowByHeightInInches(obj); count++; } } alert("Drop shadow applied to " + count + " object(s).");}
main();
My understanding is indesign dropshadow effect needs to be updated for the option: size within the dropshadow panel to be able to accept 0 - 1000 points for scripts. You can input higher numbers within the size by doing it manually but not with scripts for whatever reason. It will only accepts 0-144 point or 2 inches within the code.
- Indesign CC 2025
- Run the attached script a 100 in height image and you'll get the error.
- On the dropshadow applied to have the distance 5.0 in and size 5.0
- Distance: 5.0 in and Size: 0.0694 in
- Script attached.
I…
1 vote -
Elements disappear when two different templates are opposite each other on a double page (indesign 2024 - 19.5.1)
When you apply two different templates on a double page, some elements of the template disappear. This bug is not systematic, but has come back regularly for years.
This happens when a parent template and a child template are on a facing page (see screenshot).Lorsqu'on applique deux gabarits différents sur une double page certains éléments du gabarit disparaissent. Ce bug n'est pas systématique, mais revient régulièrement depuis des années.
Cela se produit lorsqu'un gabarit mère et un gabarit enfant se trouvent sur une page en vis à vis (voir capture d'écran).1 vote -
BUG character style small caps at end of line
text at the end of of line, the whole word in small caps: the last letter has small caps applied (and shows that in the character styleing palette), but does not show it (cf. img. 1 and 2), if I change the character style of this one letter to normal, now there are three letters which do not show sc (img. 3)
ID 20.0.1 Win 64 (reinstalled just now)
Workaround: empty space after the word. Still a severe bug: please do something Adobe!
1 vote -
BUG Style loss after copy
ID 20.0.1 (Win 64)
when copying a frame or text from one document to another, some style info is partly lost: in this example the font for the text.
Copying text within the document does not produce this error.the example shows replacment of chosen font by default font (Minion)
when copyying the defualt format for paragraphs is copied as well, even though it is alreay here (see img 2)
1 vote -
Arabic shadda and out of position when it comes between ain and lam, and it prevents the ain and lam from connecting
Using the Google font Cairo Variable, in this sequence, "فَعَّل," the medial ain will not connect to the lam. The shade (0651 + 0643) intervenes and sets in the wrong position.
To Reproduce
In InDesign (perhaps other programs as well), key or copy/paste the sequence with Cairo variable loaded and applied. Then Unload Cairo variable and load Cairo Regular static to see what the corrected sequence.Expected behavior
The shadda should be centered above the ain.I have contacted the font manufacturer, and the font behaves as expected in their tests. I also tested the font myself in Illustrator, and the sequence is correct with both the variable and static fonts.
Using the Google font Cairo Variable, in this sequence, "فَعَّل," the medial ain will not connect to the lam. The shade (0651 + 0643) intervenes and sets in the wrong position.
To Reproduce
In InDesign (perhaps other programs as well), key or copy/paste the sequence with Cairo variable loaded and applied. Then Unload Cairo variable and load Cairo Regular static to see what the corrected sequence.Expected behavior
The shadda should be centered above the ain.I have contacted the font manufacturer, and the font behaves as expected in their tests. I also tested the font myself in Illustrator, and…
1 vote -
2025 out of memory
When I am exporting an interactive pdf from indesign 2025, i get an out of memory error. Closing and reopening indesign helps this problem. I have made this kind of pdf many times and this has never happened as often as it does now, maybe a handful of times over the past few years.
1 vote -
Allow InDesign to retain local formatting when updating linked text files.
When using linked text files in InDesign, any local formatting changes made directly in InDesign (such as font size, color, bold/italic, etc.) are lost when the external text file is updated. This is a significant limitation for designers who need to maintain complex formatting in layouts. Please add an option to retain local formatting when linked text files are updated.
Suggestion:
“Preserve Local Formatting” in the Links panel or File Handling preferences.1 vote -
TOC Generation or Update Crashes InDesign 2025
macOS 15.2, InDesign 20.0.1
When I generate or update a TOC there is a roughly 7 in 10 chance InDesign 2025 will crash. This happens with multiple documents and has been happening consistently with every document since the release of 20.0 in October.
- I initially thought it was because I was using ID '25 on macOS Ventura, but it's still happening with existing and new documents since updating my Mac to Sequoia.
- Additionally, the same files moved to other computers (Windows 10, for example) also crash there when generating, updating TOCs.
- Happens whether the documents in question are standalone or booked, with or without other TOCs in same document, with and without other documents opened.
- No problems with ID '22, '23, or '24 on the same computer, with the same content in new documents or with the pre-existing documents that had pre-25 file versions.
- Happens with vanilla, plain text headings (no GREP styles, no Xrefs, no text variables).
I had hoped that all those literally more than 100 automatic bug reports would have had Adobe fix the problem or reach out to me for info, but no. My own troubleshooting hasn't turned up the culprit, so I'm asking the community for help.
It literally took me a (work) week to generate the table of contents for InDesign Masterclass: Type & Tables: 2025 Edition (and actually delayed the publication of that book by more than a week) because InDesign crashed every single time, hour after hour, of trying to generate the TOC for the INDB book of 12 INDDs. If I hadn't needed to teach MathML in the book, I wouldn't have used InDesign 2025 at all, and would have reverted to '24.
For InDesign Masterclass: Text Techniques book I lost ALMOST a week with the same crashing. In the end, I built the table of contents by hand, line by line, hyperlink by hyperlink, instead of using InDesign's built-in TOC feature.
macOS 15.2, InDesign 20.0.1
When I generate or update a TOC there is a roughly 7 in 10 chance InDesign 2025 will crash. This happens with multiple documents and has been happening consistently with every document since the release of 20.0 in October.
- I initially thought it was because I was using ID '25 on macOS Ventura, but it's still happening with existing and new documents since updating my Mac to Sequoia.
- Additionally, the same files moved to other computers (Windows 10, for example) also crash there when generating, updating TOCs.
- Happens whether the documents in question are standalone or…
1 vote -
InDesign 2025 can't read metadata from multiple images
macOS 15.2, InDesign 20.0.1
Problem: Metadata inside an image not being recognized by InDesign 2025.
Details:
Multiple images from different sources containing metadata that InDesign doesn't recognize
Presence of metadata in XMP Description field verified in Bridge and via InDesign's Links panel XMP File Info command.
Generating a Live Caption or Static Caption when using the Description field returns "<No data from link>".
Setting Object Export Options > Alt Text Source to From XMP: Description results in "metadata property is not present on some selected content".
When a PDF is generated using the images in question, the metadata is not passed through to the PDF, resulting in missing alt text accessibility errors.
Manually writing (or copying and pasting) the metadata to the Alt Text Source as Custom works, but as does manually creating a caption, but automation is the point.macOS 15.2, InDesign 20.0.1
Problem: Metadata inside an image not being recognized by InDesign 2025.
Details:
Multiple images from different sources containing metadata that InDesign doesn't recognize
Presence of metadata in XMP Description field verified in Bridge and via InDesign's Links panel XMP File Info command.
Generating a Live Caption or Static Caption when using the Description field returns "<No data from link>".
Setting Object Export Options > Alt Text Source to From XMP: Description results in "metadata property is not present on some selected content".
When a PDF is generated using the images in question, the metadata is not…1 vote -
Selected text does not highlight
Selected text does not highlight on some spreads only: when I double-click inside a text frame in InDesign, the usual highlight that indicates the selection does not appear on some spreads in the document, in other it does work.
This makes the work very challenging.1 vote -
CEP HTML Engine
In Task Manager, "CEP HTML Engine" spawns a couple dozen instances--is that the cause of numerous crashes? We just installed InDesign (and CC) 2024 (v. 19.5.1) for testing on both Windows 10 and 11 Enterprise. InDesign is hanging when I do basic tasks: copy & paste, move a graphic frame, delete a paragraph. The only way to recover is by ending the task in Task Manager. These issues are happening on multiple PCs, and different files. Does Adobe do any testing with CC on Windows?
1 vote -
Cursor clicking and dragging when only clicking.
When just clicking somewhere on-screen (e.g. clicking a different swatch colour or clicking on a text box), sometimes the cursor will click and drag the item as well. I have tried multiple mice (3) and still have the same issue with each one, making me assume it may be a software issue.
1 vote -
Before tag and after untag frame with different behavior
If you tag a frame object (XML), this object does not behave the same after untagging as before tagging. In other words: tagging is not fully reversible. You can see a difference in the layer panel and in the exported PDF tag structure (Tagged PDF)
How can this behavior be reproduced?
- Create a new InDesign document.
- Draw a placeholder (empty) graphic frame
- Assign any XML tag to the frame
- Remove the XML tag
- Export a tagged PDF
What is the difference between the object before tagging and after untagging?
The layer panel shows a different status.
The frame before tagging is not assigned a tag in the tag structure of the PDF during PDF export. A tag is assigned to the object in the PDF structure after tagging and untagging. (see attached screenshots)
What should be the correct behavior?
Both states of the frames - i.e. without tagging and after untagging - should result in the same result in the layer panel and in the tag export for PDF.
Why is this relevant?
This causes a problem if these objects appear in the tag structure of the exported PDF. They are (empty) graphic frames, but InDesign assigns a Figure tag to them and they also have no alternative text. When checking the PDF for accessibility, an error is reported.
These two states of the same object cannot be distinguished via ExtendScript. If an InDesign document is saved using IDML, these objects are converted back into “normal” graphic frames.
InDesign, Platform
InDesign 2024, 2025
macOS MonterayDiscussion
https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/rectangle-vs-graphic-frame/td-p/15039102
If you tag a frame object (XML), this object does not behave the same after untagging as before tagging. In other words: tagging is not fully reversible. You can see a difference in the layer panel and in the exported PDF tag structure (Tagged PDF)
How can this behavior be reproduced?
- Create a new InDesign document.
- Draw a placeholder (empty) graphic frame
- Assign any XML tag to the frame
- Remove the XML tag
- Export a tagged PDF
What is the difference between the object before tagging and after untagging?
The layer panel shows a different status.
The frame before tagging…
1 vote -
Add a Back Button to Navigate Recently Changed Items in Find/Change
I frequently use the Find/Change feature in InDesign for text and style replacements. However, it would be very helpful to have a "Back" button or feature to navigate to the last changed instance, especially when working on long documents.
Currently, the only workaround is manually using Undo (Ctrl+Z/Cmd+Z), but this isn't ideal for reviewing multiple changes. A "Go Back" option would enhance productivity and reduce errors by allowing users to quickly review recent changes.
Thank you for considering this request!
1 vote -
Searching and finding overset text no longer changes to the page this text is on
In InDesign 2024, you can search for text that happens to be overset (outside a text box). When you press find next, the page changes to the location of this text box with the matching overset text.
In InDesign 2025 version 20.01, you can search for overset text (outside the text box). The page will not change if the matching text is overset.
Being able to search for text that is inside an overset text box, and knowing what page it is on, is an important function. Can we get this back? Seems like a simple fix.
1 vote -
working spaces are not shown correctly after sleep mode
Adobe InDesign version 20.0.1 (Mac OS): Problem: after sleep mode, the saved workspace is not displayed correctly. The tool palettes are no longer on the second screen after the Mac has been put to Sleep mode
1 vote -
1 vote
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Palettes not docking in the sidebar
I seem to be having more trouble 'docking' palettes, or dragging them into a group on the sidebar on the right. Wondering if anyone else is experiencing this resistance?
When I drag a floating palette onto a closed group, it highlights blue, but I think it used to disappear and you could decide where in the group you wanted to put it, or even into another group or by itself. Currently, there is a light highlight on the group, but when released, it remains floating. When dragged to an open area, the floating palette dims, and will dock by itself.
1 vote
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