Cannot select text frame in Publisher

[charlesbewlay]

The text frame, as per attached, just shows little squares in the middle of each side when I try to select it. I want to change two columns to one, just for the top part in blue.

Even 'columns' in the Frame Panel shows one column, but is greyed out. So without being able to select the Frame I can do nothing, zilch, not even reflow into a new Frame and then delete the ---x--- ones.

What else can I do (I've restarted Publisher, even)? Nothing in this Forum.

[GarryP]

The little crosses show that either the layer is locked or it’s on a master page.

If it’s locked then just unlock it.
If it’s on a master page then you need to edit the master page.

[charlesbewlay]

Mac OS Ventura, Publisher v2.1, Macbook Pro.

[charlesbewlay]

1 minute ago, GarryP said:

The little crosses show that either the layer is locked or it’s on a master page.

If it’s locked then just unlock it.
If it’s on a master page then you need to edit the master page.

Nothing locked in the layer. Is there something else?

[GarryP]

Yes, the other thing that I mentioned.

[LukasMizera]

Columns can edit if the layer is locked.  Try check you master page like GarryP wrote. I send GIF.

[charlesbewlay]

1 hour ago, LukasMizera said:

Columns can edit if the layer is locked.  Try check you master page like GarryP wrote. I send GIF.

Thanks. Master pages are all clear. It's the main text pages.

[GarryP]

Can you show us a full-screen screenshot which includes the Layers Panel with the ‘problem layer’ selected within it?
Try and include, in the Layers Panel, as many of the parent layers of the ‘problem layer’ (if there are any) as you can.

[charlesbewlay]

Here's something really weird! I clicked on the layer where I saw two pages, and included the two pages shown. As you'll see the two pages seem to have their own frame. So, what the hell, delete it! And bingo, problem solved, just needed to move the content of the right-hand page up two pages – reflowed into a new text frame.

This may have had something to do with text moving forward from a few pages back due to extra material being added, but why a frame the exact size of the whole double age would exist at all bemuses me.

BTW the text on the left page, moved off to the right, was just the end of the previous chapter: I moved it to show it's a separate frame.

[charlesbewlay]

Thanks @GarryP. It looks like we were thinking along the same lines! But what a mystery as to how that deadly text frame came about. I've never appreciated Laayers a to, but this was an eye opener.