Auto create threaded text frames

Pardon me if this solution has already been covered.
I am seeking a solution for auto creating several text frames on a single page. I have an excel/text file which contains the item numbers and prices, there are approximately 50-100 items per page. I would like to use data merge or some resource to import the file while placing each field in its own text frame for repositioning according to images. I played around with the data merge but it created 150 pages each with one text frame.
Thanks for any ideas.

If it can be done with InDesign, then almost without exception, it can be scripted. The exceptions are few and far between: off the top of my head, a script can't control the preference to allow attached scripts -- the preference would be pointless if it could.
There are also things that can be done in a script that can't be done (as opposed to "would be very onerous to do") in the UI. For example, see this:
http://indesignsecrets.com/easily-add-captions-to-graphics-frames.php
For more info, check out the InDesign Scripting page on Adobe.com. You might also look at my blog here:
http://jsid.blogspot.com
Also, Pete Kahrel has an O'Reilly eBook that is a very good introduction.
Dave

Similar Messages

How can I sequence non-threaded text frames for localization?

Is there any way to sequence non-threaded text frames? I want the text to appear in order in SDL (translation software).
Thanks all. RR

Last time I checked, the Articles tool only affected reading order in PDF. I know of no translation tools that consistently do a good job harvesting text from PDFs, and SDL's tools only accept IDML. TextStitch is useful because you can just let it auto-stitch the whole document if all frames should be read in a top-down, left-right order.
However, StoryCollector and other SDL tools also collect frames in that order. So, using the QuickStitch function of TextStitch, you can rapidly thread all the frames in a document. Note that you will want to ungroup any group that contains a text frame before you begin - TextStitch gives you visual feedback, "blackening" frames that are going to be included in the threaded story, but it doesn't black out threaded frames in groups, so if you want to be able to see what you are doing, then you'll have to ungroup.

What is the best way to import a graphic? & How do I create a text frame for a figure caption?

Hello all! I've been working from the FM book for almost 2 hrs trying to figure this out, so now I need your help. I am almost to this point:
Problem I: Importing a graphic
First of all, which is the best way?
-Insert an anchor frame and then import the graphic into the frame OR
-Just insert the graphic and get the anchor frame by default
Here’s my importing and sizing problem:
I hit ENTER to make a new paragraph line (side note: the book says make a new paragraph by hitting ENTER, import the graphic, and then ESC m+p to shrink wrap so that you can avoid the graphic overlapping the above text. I do exactly this (I believe), but my graphic still overlaps the above text when I shrink wrap. What the...?)
I insert an anchored frame with position Below Current Line and alignment CENTER (I chose to the insert anchor frame, since this way I have control over its alignment, correct?)
Anchor frame is selected when I import my image file
In the Imported Graphic Scaling box, what do I select if my file is HUGE (3072x2304)?
-Fit in selected rectangle (when I choose this the image imports small and fits in the anchored frame with lots of white space around it)
-72 dpi
-75 dpi
-150 dpi
-300 dpi
-Custom dpi: 96 (I’ve tried changing this to a smaller number (20) and I get a message that says “cannot handle a bitmap of that size.”)
I’ve had the best luck with selecting FIT IN SELECTED RECTANGLE, and then I just scale the image with my shift+click. If I choose 72 dpi or Custom, my image imports HUGE, and I just can’t manage it. I don’t have a method for resizing these images outside of FM.
Problem II: Creating a text frame for a caption
Once I have chosen FIT IN SELECTED RECTANGLE, I try to insert a text box underneath the image (and inside the anchor frame) to type a caption in it.
In Create New Text Frame box, the default is Number 1 and Gap 0.25. I click SET.
Next, I double-click inside the text frame to begin typing, but the cursor is OUTSIDE and UNDERNEATH the text frame! What the heck??? I’ve done this before and it has worked just fine. Then I had another problem where when I did get the text inside the text frame, I would select the text frame to move it, and it left the text behind! (I moved the frame but the text was separated from it and left behind.)
THANK YOU in advance for your help. I hope I wrote this out clearly enough. I appreciate those who respond. P.S. I'm in FM 10.

My favorite method is to use a one-cell table for graphics and captions.
Import the graphic by reference into the table cell. Create a "Caption"
paragraph tag and assign it to the table title. (The title can be set
for above or below the table cell. I prefer below.) Now, whenever you
insert this table, it will be ready for graphic and caption. Another
advantage of this method is that graphic and caption always stay
together at page/column breaks.
When you create the table format above, assign it to have a -2.0 space
above. Then, create a paragraph tag, such as "TableAnchor" and assign it
-2.0 pt font size and -2.0 space below. (You can substitute a different
point size, but it must be the same in all three places. The TableAnchor
paragraph will hold the table and these settings let tables fit against
the top margin where necessary. Otherwise, they dip down a bit.
I wrote this from memory, so I hope I remembered all the steps!

Creating Scrollable text frames in InDesign

I've been trying to create scrollable text frames in InDesign CS6 and, for the life of me, cannot figure out how to do so for an interactive PDF.
I've done so for touchscreen devices before through DPS and the scrollable frame option, but I've never tried to do it for something non-touchscreen/mobile. I don't even know if it's possible, but I am sending this to someone who may not have touchscreen access with touchscreen scroll functionality and I wouldn't want to risk a good portion of text to go unread because of a lack-of functionality.
So, I guess my question is: Is there a way to create a scrollable text field for an interactive PDF that could be scrolled through using a mouse or keyboard?
Thanks in advance!

No. It's DPS only.

How to Create a text frame?

Hai
i'm senthil....
i'm just now started working with Adobe Indesign plugin's..
Can anyone tell me how to create a text frame...
wat r the steps for creating a text frame?
what are the Interface pointers used for creating a text frame...
plzz reply me who knows...
bye.

See SDKLayoutHelper::CreateTextFrame.
You can also look at SnpCreateFrame::CreateTextFrame in SnippetRunner.
Regards,
Narayan

Each time I create a Text Frame it appears colored with black?

Every time I create a Text Frame with the Type tool in InDesing CS5.5 in a document named "02_End.indd", (this happen only for this file) the it appears filled with black color. On the other documents this does not happen (the text frames are with no fill).
Can anyone tell me how can I change the default color of the Text frames?
Please help me?

Make sure you don't have anything selected. Then look in the swatches palette. If you see the default fill is black, set it to [None].
If not, it may be your default object style, or possibly a document corruption -- if you suspect the latter, you could try to Remove Document Corruption as per the instructions at the top of this forum.

Can't create a text frame

I started a new two page, two column document and added all the text id multiple text frames in both columns on p.1. When I try to create a text frame on p.2, I only can get the cursor in the upper left corner of p.w in the margin, not in the defined area of the document.
Can anyone please give me a suggestion as to what I'm doing wrong?
Thanks!
Larry

Every document uses a master page, even if you don't choose to add new objects to it. The default master page will have a text frame or frames fitting the defined columns structure if you check off the "Master Text Frame" box in the document setup dialog.
It doesn't really sound like this is what is happening, though, in your particular case. A master frame would need to be overridden to interfere with creating a new frame on a document page. What it does sound like, though, is that you drew a frame to hold a background image or something similar that is filling the entire page area, but didn't actually put anything into that frame before trying to add your new text frame.
By default, clicking with the text tool in any empty frame or shape converts it to a text frame. If you understand this behavior you learn to work with it pretty quickly, or you can change the setting in your preferences if you find it annoying.

Span Graphics across THREADED text frames

Hello there,
I am working at a 60 page document that includes plenty of footnotes, graphics and tables.
I have a 2 column layout. I need the graphics and the tables to span across the 2 columns.
I need the footnotes on each page to span across 2 columns.
Now.
Indesign puts the footnotes into their own separate column. I found a script that will correct this but will only work if the 2 columns are not part of the same text field.
In other words, to have a 2 column layout I would need 2 threaded text fields onto 1 page, instead of 1 single text field with 2 columns.
The problem is that once I have 2 different text frames, all the graphics and table will not span across the columns.
I need a fix!
Either a new way of dealing with footnotes spanning across columns, or a way of having tables and graphs spanning across threaded frames.
Thanks!
Federico

There is no easy way to span footnotes across several columns.
I had to do it several times in the last month and I did following:
Work consequent with paragraph, character and object styles.
Create an Object Style for your 2 column text.
Finish your article with your normal footnotes.
Try to find a scipt which converts footnotes to endnotes (and the other way too). There are several for free download available
Install that script.
Convert footnotes into endnotes
Create for the first endnote a flair of the paragraph style which will start in a new frame (not necessary, but makes things much easier).
Now you have at the end of the story a + which indidcates a text overflow. Click on this.
Now create a new layer above the text and lock the text and draw a rectangle on the bottom of the page where the first footnote number (now endnote number) is found.
For this reference text frame create now (or do it before) an object style which will wrap text away to make place for the "footnotes" and let the text vertically align at the bottom. Apply this style to the "footnote" frames.
Drag the frame as high as all footnotes of that page are found in this frame.
Click on the overflow indicator and follow up with the previous steps until the last footnote.
For graphics and tables spanning accross the columns I don’t anchor them in a multiple column layout out because if the anchor is in the right column, text wrapping will not work properly.

How can I simply create a text frame with perfect rounded ends?

I'm recreating a new edition of a book that was originally created in Quark. It uses round-ended text frames. When using the simplest method of corner options, the ends aren't proper semicircles, even though the radius is set to half the height of the frame.
The other problem is that I can't reduce the width sufficiently to make it look balanced. I use the direct selection tool to close in the right-hand end, so that I don't distort the shape. There's no right indent for the paragraph, but as I reduce the width the text breaks into two lines, even though I've greater space after the text than the left indent. My best solution was to create the shape in Illustrator and copy and paste into InDesign, assign text content, centre thte text vertically, use 3mm left indent. I still couldn't pull the right-hand end in tight enough. So I had to resort to making a group of the lozenge shape with a normal rectangular text frame on top.
Does anyone know why these problems occur, and can Adobe improve the corner option?

One last refinement: It's convenient if the script allows you to Undo/Redo its actions -- let me add that for completeness' sake. The following is the complete script again, no further editing required.
//DESCRIPTION:Overlay round corners on a single textframe
// A Jongware Script 2-Apr-2012
app.doScript(function(textframe){
if (textframe instanceof Group && textframe.pageItems.length == 2)
roundedRect = app.selection[0].polygons[0];
textframe = app.selection[0].textFrames[0];
textframe.properties = {strokeWeight:roundedRect.strokeWeight,strokeTint:roundedRect.strokeTint,strokeColor:roundedRect.strokeColor};
roundedRect.remove();
app.selection[0].ungroup();
left = textframe.geometricBounds[1];
right = textframe.geometricBounds[3];
height = textframe.geometricBounds[2] - textframe.geometricBounds[0];
center = (textframe.geometricBounds[2] + textframe.geometricBounds[0])/2;
radius = height/2;
leftRounded = textframe.parent.ovals.add({geometricBounds:[center-radius,left-radius,center+radius,left+radius]});
riteRounded = textframe.parent.ovals.add({geometricBounds:[center-radius,right-radius,center+radius,right+radius]});
rectBetween = textframe.parent.rectangles.add({geometricBounds:[center-radius,left,center+radius,right]});
roundedRect = rectBetween.addPath([leftRounded,riteRounded]);
roundedRect.properties = {strokeWeight:textframe.strokeWeight,strokeTint:textframe.strokeTint,strokeColor:textframe.strokeColor};
textframe.properties = {strokeWeight:0};
app.select(textframe.parent.groups.add([roundedRect,textframe]));
}, ScriptLanguage.JAVASCRIPT, app.selection[0], UndoModes.ENTIRE_SCRIPT, "Overlay Round Corners");

Auto creating threads in tomcat 4. 1.x

Hi
i have a web application ... inwhich a servlet is waiting for user requests
when tomcat starts up it has 55 threads
lets suppose 200 requests are comming to server if i print only a count say 1,2 or 3
in this case threads remain the same but if i print the request at server side then it creates 30 plus threads after some time
my each request has a string of length 500 charactor
plz let me that where is the problem where it is tomcat problem or some thing in code or the jvm management
thanks in advance

Hi
i have a web application ... inwhich a servlet is waiting for user requests
when tomcat starts up it has 55 threads
lets suppose 200 requests are comming to server if i print only a count say 1,2 or 3
in this case threads remain the same but if i print the request at server side then it creates 30 plus threads after some time
my each request has a string of length 500 charactor
plz let me that where is the problem where it is tomcat problem or some thing in code or the jvm management
thanks in advance

Break two threaded text frames into 2 separate unthreaded text frames

I have the most trouble with this. CS4.
What I'm wanting to do is separate two sections, if this is the same answer. I want my sections stand alone, unthreaded. Thanks!!!!!

In your scripts panel you'll find one under Application > Samples called Break Frame. Select the frame and click that. Done!

Creating text that will scroll in a text frame

I have tried to create text that will scroll in a text frame by following this:
Create your text frame including any inline buttons or hyperlinks. Make note of its width and then draw the frame you wish to hold that content. Make it about 5-7 pixels wider than the text frame and align the two, top and left. Cut the text frame to the clipboard and choose the placeholder frame. Choose edit>past into.
With that frame select, from the overlay creator panel choose pan and zoom and check the pan only option.
When I get to the overlay creator panel and choose pan and zoom, it asks me to select a cropped image. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. Any help would be appreciated.
Also, I am not creating any of the content on the pasteboard.
Please help. thanks

is the parenting frame cropping the inline text frame?
—Johannes

How to create, place, format and paste the clipboard contents into a text frame

I am new to scripting and need help. I have an existing Indesign document. I need to be able to create a text frame on my current page, the width of my margins with the top of the text frame at the top margin and 1" in height, then format it to be 1-column, and then paste the clipboard contents into it and tag the text with a particular paragraph style. I am using Indesign CS4 on a mac, if that makes any difference. Thanks for any help.

May this will help you. It will create an anchored object with a text what you desired, with object style. You should create an object style before with the x and y co ordinates. You can choose either para style or character style.
var the_document = app.documents.item(0);
// Create a list of paragraph styles
var list_of_paragraph_styles = the_document.paragraphStyles.everyItem().name;
// Create a list of character styles
var list_of_character_styles = the_document.characterStyles.everyItem().name;
// Create a list of object styles
var list_of_object_styles = the_document.objectStyles.everyItem().name;
// Make dialog box for selecting the styles
var the_dialog = app.dialogs.add({name:"Create anchored text frames"});
with(the_dialog.dialogColumns.add()){
with(dialogRows.add()){
staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Make the anchored frames from ..."});
with(dialogRows.add()){
staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"This character style:"});
var find_cstyle = dropdowns.add({stringList:list_of_character_styles, selectedIndex:0});
with(dialogRows.add()){
staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Or this paragraph style:"});
var find_pstyle = dropdowns.add({stringList:list_of_paragraph_styles, selectedIndex:0});
with(dialogRows.add()){
staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Leave one dropdown unchanged!"});
dialogRows.add();
with(dialogRows.add()){
staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Delete matches?"});
var delete_refs = dropdowns.add({stringList:["Yes","No"], selectedIndex:0});
dialogRows.add();
with(dialogRows.add()){
staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Anchored text frame settings:"});
with(dialogRows.add()){
staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Object style:"});
var anchor_style = dropdowns.add({stringList:list_of_object_styles, selectedIndex:0});
with(dialogRows.add()){
staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Frame width:"});
var anchor_width = measurementEditboxes.add({editUnits:MeasurementUnits.MILLIMETERS, editValue:72});
with(dialogRows.add()){
staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Frame height:"});
var anchor_height = measurementEditboxes.add({editUnits:MeasurementUnits.MILLIMETERS, editValue:72});
the_dialog.show();
// Define the selected styles
var real_find_cstyle = the_document.characterStyles.item(find_cstyle.selectedIndex);
var real_find_pstyle = the_document.paragraphStyles.item(find_pstyle.selectedIndex);
var real_anchor_style = the_document.objectStyles.item(anchor_style.selectedIndex);
// Check if a style is selected
if(find_cstyle.selectedIndex != 0 || find_pstyle.selectedIndex != 0) {
// Define whether to search for character styles or paragraph styles
app.findChangeGrepOptions.includeFootnotes = false;
app.findChangeGrepOptions.includeHiddenLayers = false;
app.findChangeGrepOptions.includeLockedLayersForFind = false;
app.findChangeGrepOptions.includeLockedStoriesForFind = false;
app.findChangeGrepOptions.includeMasterPages = false;
if(find_cstyle.selectedIndex != 0) {
app.findGrepPreferences = NothingEnum.nothing;
app.findGrepPreferences.appliedCharacterStyle = real_find_cstyle;
} else {
app.findGrepPreferences = NothingEnum.nothing;
app.findGrepPreferences.appliedParagraphStyle = real_find_pstyle;
app.findGrepPreferences.findWhat = "^";
// Search the document
var found_items = the_document.findGrep();
myCounter = found_items.length-1;
do {
// Select and copy the found text
var current_item = found_items[myCounter];
if(find_pstyle.selectedIndex != 0) {
var found_text = current_item.paragraphs.firstItem();
var insertion_character = (found_text.characters.lastItem().index) + 1;
var check_insertion_character = insertion_character + 1;
var alt_insertion_character = (found_text.characters.firstItem().index) - 1;
var the_story = found_text.parentStory;
app.selection = found_text;
if(delete_refs.selectedIndex == 0) {
app.cut();
} else {
app.copy();
} else {
var found_text = current_item;
var insertion_character = (found_text.characters.lastItem().index) + 2;
var check_insertion_character = insertion_character;
var alt_insertion_character = (found_text.characters.firstItem().index) - 1;
var the_story = found_text.parentStory;
app.selection = found_text;
if(delete_refs.selectedIndex == 0) {
app.cut();
} else {
app.copy();
// Make text frame from selection
try {
app.selection = the_story.insertionPoints[check_insertion_character];
app.selection = the_story.insertionPoints[insertion_character];
} catch(err) {
app.selection = the_story.insertionPoints[alt_insertion_character];
var the_anchored_frame = app.selection[0].textFrames.add({geometricBounds:["0","0",anchor_height.editContents,anch or_width.editContents],anchoredObjectSettings:{anchoredPosition: AnchorPosition.ANCHORED}});
app.selection = the_anchored_frame.insertionPoints[0];
app.paste();
// Apply the object style now to "force apply" paragraph style set in the object style
if(anchor_style.selectedIndex != 0) {
the_anchored_frame.appliedObjectStyle = real_anchor_style;
myCounter--;
} while (myCounter >= 0);
} else {
alert("No styles selected!");

Option to auto-resize text frame vertically?

Hi,
Sometimes I don't know exactly how tall a text frame is going to be or I just want to get some text on the page quickly without drawing it out exactly. I was wondering if there was an option to auto-resize the text frame vertically as you type. Has anyone heard of such an option? Thanks!

Vee S wrote:
I found a plugin called Typefi Autofit that does exactly I'm looking for, but unfortuntely they don't have a CS5 version available. I did try it on CS4 and it seems to work nicely.
http://www.typefi.com/index.php/typefi-autofit
If anyone has a CS5 solution, please share!
This commercial InDesign plug-in can do it:
In-Tools » Adobe InDesign Plugins » AutoFlow Pro
You can download a trial version.
HTH
Regards,
Peter
Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices

Can you anchor threaded text to different frames?

I work with a lot of catalogs, and one thing that I want to know if I can do is to take a giant text document, drop it into several threaded text frames, and make each paragraph start at the beginning of a different text frame withing hitting enter a million times, and without breaking the thread.

You're welome.

Auto create threaded text frames

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