Hello,

We have dozens upon dozens of documents that use Content Controls. In only a few of the documents are we unable to take a document out of Design Mode (under the Developer tab). We get an error "Word cannot turn off design mode because placeholder text in a content control contains invalid items. Placeholder text cannot contain items such as floating objects, revision marks, or content controls. Remove these items from the placeholder and try again."

Well, the content control does NOT have any of those three things named. Has nothing in it for text.  I've found if I type a Space then it does work but then we have to adjust layout as that Space moves following content down just a slight bit, not sure why.

Here is the OpenXML for a control that causes that error:

<w:sdt xmlns:w="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/wordprocessingml/2006/main">
  <w:sdtPr>
    <w:tag w:val="xdb:conditional" />
    <w:id w:val="991525374" />
    <w:lock w:val="contentLocked" />
    <w:placeholder>
      <w:docPart w:val="2063CDB94D194852B29F971D2ADBD4A2" />
    </w:placeholder>
    <w:group />
  </w:sdtPr>
  <w:sdtEndPr />
  <w:sdtContent>
    <w:sdt>
      <w:sdtPr>
        <w:tag w:val="xdb:selectvalue" />
        <w:id w:val="1460991648" />
        <w:placeholder>
          <w:docPart w:val="2063CDB94D194852B29F971D2ADBD4A2" />
        </w:placeholder>
        <w:showingPlcHdr />
        <w:text />
      </w:sdtPr>
      <w:sdtEndPr />
      <w:sdtContent>
        <w:p w:rsidRPr="000D6648" w:rsidR="00EB0001" w:rsidP="00B6065D" w:rsidRDefault="00951E32">
          <w:pPr>
            <w:pStyle w:val="BodyText2" />
          </w:pPr>
        </w:p>
      </w:sdtContent>
    </w:sdt>
  </w:sdtContent>
</w:sdt>

Here is the OpenXML for a content control with that added Space:

<w:sdt xmlns:w="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/wordprocessingml/2006/main">
  <w:sdtPr>
    <w:tag w:val="xdb:conditional" />
    <w:id w:val="-418799571" />
    <w:lock w:val="contentLocked" />
    <w:placeholder>
      <w:docPart w:val="DefaultPlaceholder_1082065158" />
    </w:placeholder>
    <w:group />
  </w:sdtPr>
  <w:sdtEndPr />
  <w:sdtContent>
    <w:sdt>
      <w:sdtPr>
        <w:tag w:val="xdb:selectvalue" />
        <w:id w:val="377202550" />
        <w:placeholder>
          <w:docPart w:val="DefaultPlaceholder_1082065158" />
        </w:placeholder>
        <w:showingPlcHdr />
        <w:text />
      </w:sdtPr>
      <w:sdtEndPr />
      <w:sdtContent>
        <w:p w:rsidRPr="000D6648" w:rsidR="001F5157" w:rsidP="00B6065D" w:rsidRDefault="00D70407">
          <w:pPr>
            <w:pStyle w:val="BodyText2" />
          </w:pPr>
          <w:r>
            <w:t xml:space="preserve"> </w:t>
          </w:r>
        </w:p>
      </w:sdtContent>
    </w:sdt>
  </w:sdtContent>
</w:sdt>

Note the additional <w:r> and <w:t> elements at the very end of that last <w:p>

ALSO, note the docPart w:val changes.

I came across this post that touches on this issue, as well.

Any reason why a blank placeholder text prevents me from taking a document out of Design Mode and why adding a space in <w:r>...<w:t> elements causes formatting issues? See the slight difference in spacing in the below images:

Thanks

Jerry

Hi,

According to your description, your issue is more related to content control and openxml, thus, I recommend you post the question to openxml forum

https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/home?forum=os_binaryfile&filter=alltypes&sort=lastpostdesc

The reason why we recommend posting appropriately is you will get the most qualified pool of respondents, and other partners who read the forums regularly can either share their knowledge or learn from your interaction with us. Thank you for your understanding.