Why can't I move objects and text boxes in Indesign CS5.5?

[Clare Gilmour]

I have recently upgraded to Indesign CS5.5.I have been working on a document and all was going fine but I suddenly realised I could no longer move any text boxes or objects using the direct selection tool and dragging. The objects just don't move. I can move them by selecting them and then laboriously shifting them with the arrow keys. I can also reshape them by dragging the mid points and corners. The objects are not locked and are not on a locked layer. The "Anchored object' options are all greyed out and I also can't copy any of the objects.  Please can someone help?

[Peter Spier]

Windows 7? see InDesign tools and panels don't respond to mouse clicks (Windows 7/Vista)

[Clare Gilmour]

Thank you - but I'm on a Mac OSX

[Peter Spier]

Can you move them with the regular selection tool (black arrow)?

[Clare Gilmour]

No - I can't move them with either selection tool. I've created another document and the same thing happens.

[John Hawkinson · Accepted solution]

Trash, Replace, Reset, or Restore the application Preferences: http://forums.adobe.com/thread/526990

[Clare Gilmour]

That worked fine - thank you so much.

[Guest]

I don't understand how to do this. I am currently going through the same problem. Can someone help me?

[BobLevine]

Nobody can help you without details.

And if you're not using CS5.5 start your own thread with full details about what the problem is.

[galgaz]

I experienced this issue after adding some new Chrome addons. By process of elimination, it turned out to be one called "Session Manager." After disabling it, the problem disappeared.

[BobLevine]

One document or all?

Bob

[Giovanni-910]

all, old and new...

[papei-wla]

I am having this same problem now with InDesign CC. I am using a mac OSX 10.9.5. I have trashed all preferences or reset them with control - alt - shift - command while starting InDesign. Nothing seems to help. If I do a restart I am able to move objects for a short time. After a time though it no longer functions. I called the Adobe help hotline only to find out that they don't offer telephone support for InDesign and was bumped back to the Adobe website to try and sort it out myself. Big help Adobe!!!

[avanishdivya]

Hello papei,

I have sent you a message. Please reply & I will get back to you.

Thanks

Avanish

[LucymBonner]

Can you please post the solution so that the rest of us can fix it on our own systems?

[Pwilliams477]

I have done the rename of the 2 files and STILL I cannot move text boxes.  Any other ideas??  Just FYI, I'm running Indesign cs5.5 on windows 8

[Peter Spier]

One file or all files?

[Pwilliams477]

All files...  If i go to another workstation with the same version of ID, I can move all.  Only on my windows 8.1 install does it not work. This is a relatively new phenomenon.  I has worked fine until just a few days ago

[Peter Spier]

So what changes were made on your machine in the past few days?

[Pwilliams477]

None that I am aware of. Pehaps a windows update?

[Peter Spier]

Maybe, but unlikley since it isn't being widely reported. New browser plugins? Utilities?

Have you tried doing a System Restore?

[Pwilliams477]

In addition to my design duties, I am working to set up a new virtual environment for the office (Small office, I have to multitask...:))  I did recently install a web client for VMWare management...  I can't believe that would affect ID, but I HAVE seen stranger things...  I can uninstall that, but not sure that would revert...  I will try the system restore

[Pwilliams477]

That did it.  The system restore.  I'll have to put the VMware stuff on another machine.  Thanks for your help!!!

[papei-wla]

I encountered this problem a couple weeks back. It seems that a plugin in Chrome was causing it. The culprit was pushbullet. The problem has been documented by pushbullet. Would you happen to be using the chrome browser with this plugin? If you are, remove it do a restart and see if the problem is resolved. It would seem that this plugin is wholly unrelated to InDesign, but it was what causing me a lot of grief.

[anysurfer]

Deleting Pushbullet fixed it. Totally weird.