Gutter Rules for text frames

Here's a special request. As a publication designer, if I choose to have rules in my column gutters, it's real pain because I have to place those rules manually, style them and then move and/or lengthen/shorten them if my column's height or postioning changes.
How great would it be to have a "Gutter Rules" option in the Object Style specifications for text frames? You could specify the rule's style, width, colour, offset etc., and choose whether to have them extend to the full height of the box, or just to the height of the content, aligning it to x-hieght, base height and so on. Would love to see this feature in future versions of Adobe Indesign, and if anyone knows of a script, please let me know!

Starting with Eugene's questions of 8/31: There are NO InDesign “embedded” footnotes, all the “notes” are simply text in a text frame. When they refer to a note reference in text, the note numbers at the start of the footnote are superscripted with a character style. Just for info, the notes without the superscript numbers at the start (25-35, 33, 35) are notes that refer to the line numbers.
Unfortunately using a rule above the first note in the frame won’t work all the time either. Just as the notes for the right page (6, 7 and 8) start on the left page and continue with note number 9 on the right page, a single long note can start on the left page and end on the right page. At that point we’d have to break the paragraph and restyle the 2nd half of the note with out the rule. We did this in another book and it was only a minor irritation. If this series though it would be a killer over the long haul.
After looking at it again last night for a while I think anchoring a rule in the first line of the footnote still seems to be the best way. It’s easy to place if a library is left open, I can script it if I find it necessary and it keeps the text flow in tact for possible later repurposing. Maybe the best place for the anchor is the middle of the line giving the best chance that it will stay in the right place if text moves a bit forward or backward. The one good thing about the way it anchors is that the anchor’s horizontal position doesn’t matter.
Thanks to both of you for your time and all the best.
Ken

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Thanks! Below is an example. Should the H1 and both paragraphs be in one text frame space out to fit video or two separate text frames with the video between them?
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Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
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In the example you give, I would put both sets of text in a single box with a blank spacer between them for the video which would then be layered over the top to appear in the middle.
The video takes longer to download and may also be blocked by the users settings so having it separate allows my text to load (and appear) quickly even if the video encounters issues.
I would only separate the two text sections if they are clearly different in style or content and that’s really only helpful if you want a phone and/ or tablet version of your pages… it makes your life easier then to have the text in separate containers when you want to sync them across the different layouts.

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I have Macbook Pro with Top config on top S/W everything updated.
Using Muse.
Tablet view site.
Simple text frames buttons with states over a full width background image - DON'T WORK!
The text frame buttons are in TOP layer.
Visible but do not respond to to any touch. UNLESS I delete the background image.
Can't figure it out for days.
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Thanks
Eli @

TO MUSE STAFF!!!!
I Found a major bug that needs to be fixed:
In Tablet view:
A linked text frame or state button has to be in the top layer to respond to states.
If a composition menu is opening up and covering the button when triggered - THE BUTTON WILL NOT RESPOND EVEN IF THE COMPOSITION IS CLOSED!!!
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I have tested it on a few projects and the bug is consistent.
[email protected]
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When I put design elements (even just simple text so I can, say, save a headline font I like for a specific element) into my library to re-use later, when I pull them out they have a huge text frame on the, which I then have to remove manually. This is a pain. I might as well just keep a notepad beside my computer and write down things I like and remake them every time if I'm going to have to mess with the elements I pull out of the library anyway.
Any way I can just get it to stop doing that? I'd like the element I put into the library to be THE SAME element when I take it out. I have a feeling there's just some setting somewhere I can't find that's causing this.
I'm using CS6, by the way.

Salah Fadlabi wrote:
Try to open Object style with no document open, double click on none then close and open indesign. Every frame after this process will be without border.
This is only correct for new created document, not for existing ones. If the problem existis in an existing document you have to change the default style with no object selected.
I would strongly recommend to create its own basic styles for each category and load them into the several style panels to have always styles with the same name in every document which makes exchange of items easier.
Default Object styles are those with the small rectangle graphic at the right. The one with the T ist for Text frames, the one without T for Image Frames.

Untread Text Frames without losing text in the second frame

I probably not gonna use the right terms to express my question because I don't have an english version of ID. I'm sorry for that.
If you, for example, import a text document into your column-based layout, you are able to automate the text flow and it will flow into the columns. At the end of each frame there's a text-handler (threading text) that shows you where the text continues in the next frame.
I wanna know if there's a possibility to unthread text AND leave the text into the first column and the rest of the text into the next column WITHOUT being connected like before. If I try this I get a red plus-sign at the end of the first frame showing me there more text and the next frame ends up without text.
I can cut the text from behind the plus-sign and paste it into the next frame, okay. But there's something in my memory telling me it was already possible with Pagemaker to simply disconnect frames and leave the text intact.
I hope somebody understands my question?

Salah Fadlabi wrote:
Try to open Object style with no document open, double click on none then close and open indesign. Every frame after this process will be without border.
This is only correct for new created document, not for existing ones. If the problem existis in an existing document you have to change the default style with no object selected.
I would strongly recommend to create its own basic styles for each category and load them into the several style panels to have always styles with the same name in every document which makes exchange of items easier.
Default Object styles are those with the small rectangle graphic at the right. The one with the T ist for Text frames, the one without T for Image Frames.

Horizontal paragraph rule across two-column text frame?

Hi,
as the title suggests, how do i get a horizontal rule to run across a two-column text frame?
I have either had the rule just apply to the entered text; had a gap where the column gutter is;
or I have had to set the column gutter to 0mm/px and manually set carriage returns to give the impression of a gutter.
Surely there is a better way?
I'll attach a jpeg of my various options.
Hope I've been clear-enough. All help is appreciated.
Cheers, Matt

You can put the rule in a paragraph which is spanning a columns.
Or you can extend the paragraph rules by inputing minus values to left and right (e.g. -5mm)
Or you can use a table instead.
Or you can use negative left and right intend for the text but extend the rule to the end of the frame.
Never set a carriage return manually.

Default gutter width for drawing text boxes for overset text

I have master pages that were created with columns and the correct gutter width we want. When I drag a story from a window (a window that is part of our CMS) and place it on the page, the gutters between the text columns are correct -- p9 (or 0.125 inches). But if I draw a new text box or if I click the red plus to draw a text box for overset text, the gutter is a full pica (or 0.1667 inches).
I want any text box that is drawn on the page or any overset text box that is drawn to default to p9 for gutters.
I don't want to manually change the gutter for every new text box I draw.
I'm using ID with CS4.
Thank you.

The default gutter in a multi-column frame is set in the object style under Text Frame General Options. If you haven't defined any new styles you only need to edit the [Basic Text Frame] style. New frames will use the new gutter value when you add columns. If you have object styles for other text frames, you'll need to edit those, too. For existing frames, if the number of columns has been changed manually, you will need to reset the gutter.

Text Frame Options. Room for Side Heads added without warning

Hi -
I just got asked this and have no clue how to help. Anyone know what this is?
Every now and then, my Frame file will –apparently on its own – reset most of its text frames into having room for side heads. Makes for lots of bad labels on graphics – everything’s suddenly offset and scrolling off the bottom.
This will happen suddenly. It will usually be only one or two chapters in a book, but if I ignore it has been known spread like the black death throughout the book.
The only solution I’ve found so far has been to revert to a backup or touch each text frame individually. Setting properties for two at a time messes up location on the page.

HI -
Here's what I heard back.
I believe it’s for everything except main text flow, including headers&footers on master pages, and special elements on unused master pages.
It appears to be spontaneous, but I can’t guarantee that.
I don’t use MIFs, and I’m pretty sure no one else does.
Yes to formatting imports , because we frequently change variables in one chapter and copy them back to the rest (esp date doc was last edited – not same as print date per our regulatory agency.) Likewise conditional text. We know not to copy from a file into itself in a book, although it has happened and we do exchange manuals between revisions at times.

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)?
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-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!

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Hello, I am new to indesign and using CS4. Sorry if this is a newbie question.
I am creating a pdf digital presentation and laying it out. I want to create a consistent header on each page in the top left corner and ensure it is in the exact same location on each page. I also want to make sure the text size, font, and color is consistent on each page. Most importantly, if I need to change anything, lets say a font, I want to only do it in one place and not do it on all 20 pages in my document.
My understanding is to add a text frame to the master page. However, how do I edit the text on each page and not have it show on my cover page which is page 1 of my document?
Thanks!!!!

Create a text frame on the master page (make it wide enough and deep enough for the longest heading)
Insert some generic text like "Heading"
Give it a paragraph style
Adjust the paragraph style to your liking
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Change the text to what you want it to look like.
To alter the text colour/font etc. for all of them - adjust the paragraph style
To edit the text style for each heading so they look different in terms of colour etc. - just change the Character Colour via the swatches.
if you do this, then any changes to the Paragraph style should follow through on all pages - except where you've perhaps changed the character colour (or any other hand-adjusted changes to the text.
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for (i = 0; i < app.documents.length; i++)
app.documents[i].layoutAdjustmentPreferences.enableLayoutAdjustment = true;
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Peter

To group images with created text frame and apply label for it...

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Thanks Regards
Thiyagu

The shadow effect has to have something to be applied on, but by default text frames borders and fills are invisible.
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Is this a general InDesign question or an InDesign EPUB issue? This forum is for EPUB produced by InDesign.

Indesign CS3 what script for Break Out Text Frame ??

hi expert,
Indesign CS3 can Break Out Text Frame or Have Script ??
like this...
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/905/20080517085017hb3.jpg
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www.adobescripts.com

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