I have tried new pages with no master page items but that does not work. The same document on the lap top has the same problems. I have tried a completely new document on my lap top and there things seems to work normally. I have tried working an old document on the big computer and there things are also normal. Can I import pages from one document into my old document before making the pdf?
Are you saying that the same document behaves differently on different computers?
Or perhaps this document is now corrupt in some way? It feels like it is disintegrating under my fingers and is pretty terrifying. We literally have three more days before we have to send it to press and we do not have a cover or the first page. Thank you so much!!
If you think the file is corrupt you can use the File>Export and choose Adobe Interchange (.inx) and then open the ,inx file in InDesign (it opens as untitled). This usually clears out any problems.
If you think the program is corrupt you can rebuild your preferences (just google rebuild preferences indesign)
As for your issues, I think it's mostly to do with text wraps.
1. Cutting and pasting text into a new text frame. The text not only does not show up but a new (different shaped) text box does with the red overlaid text sign bottom right. Even when I have only cut and pasted one word.
It's likely that you have text wrap somewhere. For the new text frame go to Text Frame options (right click or cmd click the text frame and go to the options and then turn on the IGNORE TEXT WRAP)
2. Moving a text frame on top of an image the text disappears and yet I get an red overlaid text icon. The last time I tried this I dragged it back to the white space (its original place) and the text not only did not return, the frame got bigger and the overlaid text icon disappeared. This is a new problem.
This is probably the same issue as the first one. The image has a text wrap applied to it. On this text frame do the same as number 1 and turn on the IGNORE TEXT WRAP in the Text Frame Options.
3. Filling a text frame with a colour the text disappears and yet I get a red overlaid text icon. Similarly cannot add colour fill to text frame without text disappearing.
I don't understand why this would happen? Make your text frame slightly larger. A fill shouldn't affect the text, the only reason it would look like it's disappearing if the text is the same colour as the fill. The only other thing I can think of is that you're actually applying a stroke, which by default comes a little inside the text frame, and if the frame isn't big enough text can be pushed around and cause an overflow.
Check your text for the Keep Options, select the text in the text frame and then press CTRL ALT K (CMD OPTION K on Mac) (I think that's the shortcut?) and then make sure that you're instructing your text to do weird things, like keep with the next 5 lines or something.
Also check the text for NO BREAK commands. Again select the text and then go to the Character Panel and there is a sub menu accessible on the top right of the panel, here you will see an instruction for No Break and make sure that is in an off state.
4. Placing text on top of a filled text frame or an image, the cursur is loaded with the text but it does not appear in the text frame. Instead red overlaid text icon.
Not really sure why that is happening either? If you're placing text on top of a filled text frame or an image, ok you've used FILE>PLACE, you need to draw a text frame by clicking and dragging the cursor to make a frame big enough to include all the text, and once again this frame will have the IGNORE TEXT WRAP option in an off state, make sure you edit the Options of the text frame like in 1 above.
5. Creating a text frame on a filled frame or image. I place the type tool in it and cannot type. The text frame disappears. Then I click on the frame tool once more and a completely new shaped frame appears again with the overlaid text icon in bottom right. However if I create a text frame adjacent on the white space it is fine.
I think this is the same issue as no. 1 above.
