Copy layer content between InDesign files

Question

Hello,
I'm trying copy layer content between 2 files, the sources file is a Spanish version of a training manual and the target is an English version. Essentially making a single multiple language file out of two single language documents.
I'm not well-versed in scripting.
Thanks

Answer 1

Hello Again Steve,
Perhaps if I shared a bit more detail.
We began with an English version. All content was placed on layer 1. At the time some of the manuals were created there was no thought of needing multiple languages.
These files had their one layer with all placed graphics and text renamed English. The Idea was all the graphics that have text embedded in them have been edited to add the second language onto a new layer in the graphic files. (Many of the manuals share graphics between them, so a common links folder was used to maintain the library of images. The graphics files have an "art layer" and "English" layer and a "second and in some cases a third language layer added.)
In InDesign the English layer was to be duplicated (duplicating both the graphics and the text) The text was then exported out as tagged type and translated into the second language and was to be flowed back in to the second language layer. InDesigns layer overrides would be applied to each of the duplicate images to turn off the English text layer and turn on the second language layer. One copy of all the graphics and one InDesign file containing each language layer with it's appropriate layer overrides.
To print the thought was to turn of the language layer visibility you didn't want and turn on the language layer you did want.
I hadn't anticipated the translation company would override the request to perform the translations in this manner and provided a single language file back instead.
I thought it was an efficent system. A single copy of each manual to deal with and single graphic files in a common library to be maintained. At some point e-publishing is being considered and I thought one e-book with all the languages in it could be created and within the e-reader the appropriate language could be enabled. Eventually, I anticipate, and hopefully prior to the e-book effort, we will be upgrading to CS5.5 to take advantage of it's enhanced e-pub features.
Like I said, I am new to this multiple language publication process and imaged the workflow to do the job rather slickly. Rather then having sequential languages one after another in the same book the languages would take advantage of the virtual Z dimension.
Fewer files to maintain, if a change was made to the english version the change could be made to all language layers on the same page.
Given your extensive experience I'd be interested in entertaining the pros and cons of sequential verses layered multlingual files. Seemed more efficient to duplicate the text in this manner then to duplicate all the graphic files. In some cases the manuals we are working with are so old (but not outdate) as to not even have digital versions. It's a big project and management within the company doesn't always think very far ahead. I'm attempting to develop a "plan" and not certain nor convinced it is the most appropriate so your advice and opinion would be recieved with great consideration. I haven't found a whole lot of resources regarding multilingual publishing. The project was sort of "thrown" at me and at the moment it's rather difficult to determine if I'm sinking or swimming. My head goes underwater but I could be doing the butterfly and that's suppose to happen.
Right now language needs are limited to the languages with land masses attached to ours North Central and South America. International Spanish was one choice, rather then having to support each dialect. That will likely change in the upcoming years but I know of no plans when.
Thanks again,
Mark