Why can't I select text?

[elnorac]

Hi there. I'm using a multi-layered document (a scrapbooking template) in psd format but am unable to select text. I choose the horizontal text tool, but when I click on text, PSE makes a new layer instead of letting me work on the text layer that already exists. This happens even if I've already clicked on the text layer to select it. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[TonyW]

Hi there and welcome to the forum. Try doubleclicking the "T" thumbnail in the Layers Palette for the layer you want to edit. That should let you edit the text.

Tony

[Pauline]

If you double click on the text layer in the layers palette it should select it for you to work with. Make sure you double click on the box in front not on the actual words.

[TonyW]

Pauline: Great to see you back and glad to see we agree :)

Tony

[Pauline]

Thanks Tony. I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. I've missed my friends. :) I've missed my art.

[elnorac]

Thanks to both of you for posting replies so quickly! I double-click the thumbnail, but it just brings up a Layer Properties dialog box, which shows the name of the layer. Every time I close that and click on text, a new layer is opened. Weird. Any more ideas? Thank you, Elnora

[Rusty]

Elnora, you are clicking the wrong thing.
Click the thumbnail - the white box with the black "T" inside
not the layer title where it names that layer

Rusty :)

[Inspeqtor]

Elnora,

Pictures are worth a thousand words! Double click where the arrow is pointing to! Then you can edit your text. :)

1396

[Wendy]

Hi Elnora ...

... and welcome to the forum :)

Do let us know if that solves your problem ...

Wendy

[cats4jan]

A little background - what is happening is that you're "missing" the text when you try to touch it in the edit screen.

What you are doing is touching the layer underneath the text - which is telling Elements that you want a new text layer.

The double clicking is probably the easiest route - but if you want to check out my theory - make your project really large - so your text gets "fat" and put your pointer precisely on one of the letters in our word.

A big problem comes up with any graphic/text that is sitting on top of another layer. If you are not careful to touch a part of the text or graphic - careful not to touch the layer beneath it - you will end up on another layer.

[elnorac]

I really appreciate all of your precise, detailed replies! I think the problem may be that I was trying to edit text that wasn't meant to be edited. It is on a vector layer and maybe it's just there to show what the creator expected people to put in various sections, but that that layer was meant to be deleted. I noticed that on some templates they actually say "Delete this layer." as the layer's name.

I used your techniques on other templates with text, and they worked just fine.

Thanks again. I really appreciate your help.

Elnora

[KristenK]

I have followed the suggestions in this post and I'm still having difficulty selecting one of the 3 text boxes in a particular file. I was able to edit my main text box for the longest time, then all of a sudden I have not been able to select/edit it!! I've got it as the top layer, I've tried double clicking (Everything) and I have not noticed anything in particular that I changed.

This happens a lot to me in different files.

[Wendy]

Hi KristenK ..

... and welcome to the Village :)

When you have several text layers near to each other its best to go to the Layers Palette and double click on the text layer thumbnail :)

Wendy

[KristenK]

Thanks Wendy.

I just noticed that the layer I am trying to select isn't a "text" layer anymore. The thumbnail next to it is the checkerd background instead of the text thumbnail. However when I say "select similar layers" it selects the other text layers.

Anyways - is there a way to change this layer type back to Text? When I try
Layer>Type, Type is not able to be selected. Is that my real problem?

[Wendy]

Hi Kristen ...

Oh ... it sounds like the text layer has been simplified and sadly there is no way to change it back to a text layer.

You could always redo it as a new text layer :)

Wendy

[KristenK]

Thanks again Wendy. That makes me sad, it took a lot of editing and different fonts and colors and all I had to change was to delete 3 words :(

Thanks for helping me understand what happened. Darn.

[Wendy]

Hi Kristen ..

If you just want to delete some words you may be able to erase them using the eraser.

Wendy