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

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Issue

When you try to access a tool or panel item in Adobe® InDesign® by clicking on it, nothing happens.

Reason

The DPI setting for fonts is set too high or there is a conflict with Aero being enabled on your Microsoft® Windows® 7/Vista system.

Solutions:

Solution 1: Change the DPI scale back to the default.

Windows Vista

  1. Open Personalization by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking Appearance and Personalization, and then clicking Personalization.
  2. In the left pane, click Adjust font size (DPI). Administrator permission required If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
  3. In the DPI Scaling dialog box decrease the size of text and other items on the screen, click Default scale (96 DPI)–fit more information, and then click OK.
  4. To see the changes, close all of your programs, and then restart Windows.

Windows 7

  1. Click on the Start button, click on Control Panel, click on Appearance and Personalization, and then, under Display, click on Make text and other items larger or smaller.
  2. Choose Smaller - 100% (default).
  3. Click Apply.
  4. To see the change, close all of your programs and then log off of Windows. This change will take effect the next time you log on.

Solution 2: Disable Windows Aero

Windows 7

  1. Choose Start > Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Personalization.
  3. Scroll down to the Basic and High Contrast Themes.
  4. Select one of the Basic or High Contrast themes, then wait for that theme to take effect.
  5. Re-create the problem behavior, and then do one of the following:
    • If the problem doesn't recur, then Aero is the cause. Choose a Color Scheme other than Windows Aero to set up your Appearance of your desktop.
    • If the problem recurs, then Aero isn't the cause. Re-enable Aero.

To re-enable Aero:

  1. Choose Start > Control Panel.
  2. Double click Personalization
  3. Choose one of the Windows Aero themes and close the Personalization control panel.

Windows Vista

  1. Choose Start > Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Personalization .
  3. Select Window Color and Appearance.
  4. Click Open Classic Appearance Properties For More Color Options.
  5. Select a color scheme other than Windows Aero and click OK.
  6. Re-create the problem behavior, and then do one of the following:
    • If the problem doesn't recur, then Aero is the cause. Choose a Color Scheme other than Windows Aero to set up your  Appearance of your desktop.
    • If the problem recurs, then Aero isn't the cause. Re-enable Aero.

To re-enable Aero:

  1. Choose Start > Control Panel.
  2. Double click Personalization 
  3. Select Windows Color And Appearance. 
  4. Choose Windows Aero from the Color Scheme menu and click OK.

Additional information 

A larger DPI is often used to help make the text on the screen easier to read. Yet altering this setting beyond the defaults can cause issues with program functionality.

Aero is a new hardware-based graphical user interface in Windows 7/Vista. It is intended to offer more advanced features than are available in the standard interface, including new transparencies and animations.

Keywords: kb403039

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