Clipping Path "detect edges option" not working!

[W***@adobeforums.com]

In InDesign CS2, I am not able to use the detect edges option. What I am doing is going to Object<Clipping Path and then clicking the detect edges option. I am doing this so that I will be able to convert the picture to a frame but nothing is happening when I click "detect edges". I know this because a) when I right click the picture (which happens to be an outline of a state that I want to fill with a picture) the option to convert picture to frame is not there and b) I go to clipping path and it is set on none. I know I'm just missing something but it's very frustrating because I want to use this outline as a text. Thanks!

[P***@adobeforums.com]

What you describe works for me. Presumably you actually said OK and set the clipping path, rather than cancelling, so I'd say it may be time to replace your preferences.

Fast way which causes you to lose any customizations if it turns out not to be the problem is to hold down Ctrl + Alt + Shift IMMEDIATELY after launching InDesign and saying yes to the dialog asking if you want to delete your preferences. If you don't see the dialog, you weren't fast enough with the keyboard.

My preferred method, which saves your old prefs in case you want them back, is to close ID, open Explorer and make sure you are set to show hidden and system files, then navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\<User Name>\Application Data\Adobe\InDesign\Version [no.] and rename the two preference files: InDesign Defaults and InDesign SavedData. The preferences will be replaced with a fresh set of factory defaults when you relaunch ID, but if that doesn't solve your problem you can always go back to explorer and throw out the new set and name the old ones back again, restoring any customizations. If new prefs solve your problem you should delete the renamed files.

It's a good idea to also export any custom document and printer presets from the appropriate Preset > Define dialog prior to doing a preference replacement. Then you can just go back to the dialog and select load and you won't have to recreate all those wonderful things you've made and saved, and that will be wiped out with the old prefs files.

Once you have a customized set of preferences which work, make a copy and store it somewhere on your system for easy retrieval and you can simply replace the two files with your good copies when things get funny.

Peter

[W***@adobeforums.com]

Thanks for your help Peter. I did what you said and I was now able to use the detect edges option but still not after copying and pasting an image - I had to save it to my computer first. I guess this is the only way that it works and copying and pasting an image in doesn't provide InDesign with enough information about it. I'm guessing that this is normal and even though I'd like to copy and paste some images that I don't need saved on my computer, having to save the picture does not bother me. And I do have one more question when I speak of copying and pasting. Is there a similar feature in InDesign to the "office clipboard" in MS Publisher. The office clipboard basically just displays and gives you the option to paste any of the last 25 items that you copied. This would be good as sometimes I need something that i copied and pasted before the one that will come up when I press paste. Thanks again!

[unknown]

Correct. Images must be placed in InDesign. You can also drag and drop
from Bridge or Explorer.

You need to do yourself a big favor. Stop thinking about the way it
works in Publisher. That is not going to help you learn InDesign.

Bob

[P***@adobeforums.com]

You never want to paste an image into InDesign unless it was previously "placed" into the document and is linked to the real file -- i.e. you can copy and paste a placed image from page to page, or document to document, because you are really copying the link information, but you can't grab an image from outside the program and paste it. This gives you only a low-res screen preview version.

The closest thing to the "office clipboard" you describe is probably the library file. You can store nearly anything in a library and drag it onto a page whenever you need it. Not quite the same as an automatic rolling clipboard since you need to manually add any items you want to re-use, but the library file doesn't disappear when you close InDesign so it remains useful for other projects.

And as Bob says, you're working in a professional program now so you need to take the time to learn how it works. If you need a good beginning text, try the Classroom in a Book.

Peter