InDesign Guide Lines do not show up.

[Coni Tibbetts]

Although the Show Guides lines option under View is Checked. When I set guide lines they don't show up on the document. I have rebooted; I have closed and reopened the program. How can I assure the guide lines will be visible?

[Dave Saunders]

But you haven't switched off preview mode.

Hit w with nothing selected, or use the button on the toolbox.

Dave

[Gabriel Ayala]

Funny how pressing a key is all you needed to do and you almost went postal.

[Coni Tibbetts]

Thank you, Dave. You are a life saver! This was pushing me toward "postal."

[Coni Tibbetts]

It's knowing just what key to press. I work for a newspaper and deadlines are the name of that game. We have just switched to working in InDesign and I hadn't found "preview mode" before.

[Ken Grace]

<<This was pushing me toward "postal.">>

What on earth does this mean? Is this another step along the way of creating
a new language out of a perfectly good and well-used existing language? Why
is there an International English? Would the Austrians or some Swiss admit
to speaking International German?

The redefinition of English words to mean something totally different makes
me feel completely biscuit.

k

[Coni Tibbetts]

The purpose of language is communication... it is continually evolving... and you make a lovely biscuit.

[Ken Grace]

It's a good job computer languages don't evolve like that - imagine the
chaos if print suddenly meant delete.

While I agree that language evolves, it surely evolves to encompass new
concepts and meanings. For established words suddenly to be used to convey
sense not previously meant can only reduce communication.

That said, the English language is certainly the world's worst for multiple
meanings for single words. Isn't it better to leave it as we are stuck with
it, and not make it worse?

And thanks for the biscuit compliment.

k

[Guy Smiley]

"It's a good job computer languages don't evolve like that - imagine the
chaos if print suddenly meant delete."

This is a red herring. Human languages are nothing like computer languages.

"While I agree that language evolves, it surely evolves to encompass new
concepts and meanings. For established words suddenly to be used to convey sense not previously meant can only reduce communication."

I knew exactly what he meant by "postal", and there is nothing "sudden" or unprecedented about his use of the term in that way. I am sure many others knew what he meant as well. The fact that you didn't is unfortunate for you, but not a symptom of some systematic degradation of the English language.

"That said, the English language is certainly the world's worst for multiple meanings for single words. Isn't it better to leave it as we are stuck with it, and not make it worse?"

Human languages are not like computer languages. They evolve, and there is nothing anyone can do to stop that evolution. Get over it.

[Ken Grace]

Ooooh!

<This is a red herring. Human languages are nothing like computer
languages.>

Yep, red as a tomato - however your version of the English language
pronounces it.

< I knew exactly what he meant by "postal">

This is my point. I didn't. In English postal refers to sending things
through the mail. I speak English (I am English) and the word postal, to my
understanding, has no connotation beyond that.

<I am sure many others knew what he meant as well.>

Only many. Not all? What is the point of language if only some of the people
who use it know what the words mean?

And perhaps Coni could comment. Is 'he' a 'she' - and is this another
example of familiar words (like the name Connie short for Constance) being
spelled or used differently and leading to misunderstanding? (My apologies
Coni if you are of the male persuasion and I got it wrong).

k

[Guy Smiley]

"In English postal refers to sending things through the mail. I speak English (I am English) and the word postal, to my understanding, has no connotation beyond that."

Why can't you accept that your understanding of the English language--just like everyone else's--has limitations? Why does it make you uncomfortable that a familiar word happens to have an additional meaning that you aren't aware of? Does it bother you that there are probably thousands of words in the Oxford English Dictionary that you have never seen or heard before?

[Dave Saunders]

Perhaps he just wants to know what that other meaning is.

Dave

[Coni Tibbetts]

"going postal" refers to several instances where postal workers have entered their place of employment, heavily armed, and shot a number of coworkers and supervisors. Working in a stressful environment has been sugested as a possible cause for these employees' actions. Altho not limited to postal workers the term originated from the large number of postal incidents. I didn't intend to confuse anyone, and possibly exagerated my level of stress regarding the disappearing guide lines. Thank you for all your concern.

[Guy Smiley]

It was perfectly clear to me that you were just kidding around.

[Ken Grace]

And me. I just didn't know what it meant. Now I see that it is an idiomatic
American expression. I am grateful for the clarification.

k

[Guy Smiley]

Why didn't you just ask what it meant in a straightforward way, instead of getting all petulant?

[Ken Grace]

<<What on earth does this mean?>>

OK, so I gilded the lily a bit. But it took a little while before anybody
came up with an answer.

k

[M Blackburn]

But it took a little while before anybody came up with an answer.

Ken,
There's a lot of (North) Americans here, eh. The term is quite common and has been in the language for years. I betcha most didn't believe you didn't know. Ask whoever knocks you up in the morning if they knew the reference.

[Ken Grace]

Over here the post people don't tend to shoot each other - they just stop
work for a day or so, like they will next Wednesday so I won't get any mail.

And no, I've never heard the expression before. I assumed it meant something
like going ballistic which, while not an accurate use of the term, does seem
more suggestive of its intention than what I guessed postal meant. Now I
know. My thanks to Coni for enlightening me.

k

[graffiti]

Altho not limited to postal workers the term originated from the large
number of postal incidents.

More like it originated from the large amounts of media coverage of the incidents.

[Sandee Cohen]

Of course no one has commented on Ken's use of the term:

makes me feel completely biscuit.

What the heck does THAT mean? I know the difference between a US "cookie" and an English "biscuit" but how does one "feel completely biscuit."

Does that mean you feel like eating a biscuit. Or does it make you feel crumby and easily snapped in half? Or perhaps you're all soggy like when you stick a biscuit into a cuppa tea?

Do you feel stupid when you "feel completely biscuit."
Do you feel irritated when you "feel completely biscuit."
Do you feel frustrated when you "feel completely biscuit."

The nuances of this term are too great to consider.

[Ken Grace]

<<What the heck does THAT mean? >>

Sorry, left the irony drawer open.

k

[designe...@gmail.com]

From a complete outsider on a very old thread... This is helarious.

[gyra...@hotmail.com]

I completely agree. May this thread live on as future InDesign users struggle to find their guides.