Participant

Answered

Adjust Layout vs Enable Layout Adjustment

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
October 18, 2018
7 replies
6795 views

I work in book publishing so changing the size of a document is rarely done, but applying a master page with a different margin is a given to almost every project.

Is there a way to still perform the function of Enable Layout Adjustment or is that gone to the wayside? For example, I could apply a master to a page and the objects adjacent to the margins would automatically snap to the size of the master. Items that were not touching the margins like ornaments or other text boxes would remain in place.

Using the new Layout Adjustment feature, it does too much work and adjusts every object on the page, so it seems more problematic than helpful. Moreover, applying a different master to a page no longer automatically adjusts the boxes sizes to my margins.

Correct answer Laubender

Hi Ariel,

you could add your voice here and vote for a bugfix:

Text margins don't change when master pages are applied – Adobe InDesign Feedback

Or do a new bug report or feature request.

I also think, that the old Layout Adjustment feature has it's merits.

Adjust Layout is still not able to replace it in every aspect.

Regards,
Uwe

L

Laubender

Community Expert

Hi Mark,

can you be more specific?

( Some say that the fix we had with version 14.0.3 is not working with 15.0. anymore. )

Thanks,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

Mark Manansala

Participant

Hi Laubender,

I appologise for the harsh words earlier, It's just I was trying to work on something using ID and it was frustrating spending more time clicking of stuff trying to figure out how to stop the software from interupting me with "auto" things.

I will try to compile in detail my personal thoughts on the specific features that I personaly find disrupting rather than helpful and post them soonest.

Thank you for your reply. Oh. and BTW, just so I do not forget to mention... I do find all the Adobe Apps fantastic, specifically Ai, Ps, Pr, Ae, and most of all The Substance Suit, Designer, Alchemy and all the cool stuff that comes with it.

Cheers,

Mark

K

Ketrinz

Participating Frequently

I quite like the Adjust Layout for page size changes and for margins, the text will reflow to margins. BUT if you want to change the number of columns with the text reflowing, I can't get it to work. Not even with Primary text frames. When you enter another number in the columns field the alert symbol comes up and the number of columns change and the text stays in the original format. Any suggestions would be gratefully received. Please do not tell me to use text frames - it will not work for my layout.

ushioda

Participant

I'm having a similar issue. I like primary text frames. I use them all the time and grumble about my coworkers who don't.

I just started playing in InDesign CC2019 for the first time and got to see first-hand how troublesome this "Adjust Layout" tool is.

I have a book that is changing margins a bit. I'm working in a file that was created in CC2018, but saved into ID2019 before I changed anything. I changed the margins on a Master page that had one plain, boring primary text frame on each page, with running head boxes above. InDesign pushed the running heads up into the slug area and shrank each of the primary text frames to a 3pt x 3pt frame piled one on top of the other at the center of the spread. I had to readjust them by hand. So helpful.

So, every time I adjust margins or primary text frames in CC2019, I'll need to double-check all measurements because the tool is unreliable and there is no alternative, which will cost me time.

"Adjust Layout" is yet another stunning step backwards for Adobe.

Gopa C

Inspiring

I have this same issue and drives me crazy!

L

Laubender

Community Expert

Hi together,

the issue should be fixed with the latest prerelease version of InDesign: 14.0.3.418.

I recommend visiting Adobe InDesign Prerelease and test that version.

Regards,
Uwe

Shlomit Heymann

Inspiring

Hi everybody,

I also don't understand why this feature gone. I hate putting a primary text frame on the master and after quark (many many years ago) it was so refreshing feature for me, the fact that I don't need Primary text frames on master.

I prefer the old Layout Adjustment that when applying the master on a page it will auto change the text box.

Shlomit

Steve Werner

Community Expert

The Primary Text Frame feature was an improvement over the old Master Text Frame, and arrived (as I recall) with CS5 or CS6. It works well for me whenever I've used it.

I'm afraid there's no way to return to the old Layout Adjustment method unless you run an older InDesign CC version. The new Adjust Layout method is, in my opinion, more flexible and powerful.

Shlomit Heymann

Inspiring

I have imported a 200 pages of text and I set them all with Paragraph styles I created for the. After doing so, I see which page will be a chapter page, etc. Let's say the page 21 will be a chapter page where the text box starts lower than the regular reading pages. if I'll put a primary text box and apply the chapter master to page 21, will text get reflowed into this primary text? No. It will put an empty text frame under the existing one, right? I will than have to reflow the text into it so something is not working for me...

charles elliottb86469238

Participant

Man, I am so with you, timd. And the old "Primary Text Frames" approach--which worked great in Quark--was annoying was can be in InDesign (how was it annoying? I don't even remember anymore--I just remember that it was hard to work with) that's why everyone in book publishing avoided using it. The fact that I can't have the margins snap when I apply a different master page in InDesign 14 is even less unhelpful than the endnotes feature, which has added hours to every book I work on.

U

UnlimitedRefills

Participant

I'm having the same issue as you. It's very frustrating because I have previous templates setup from InDesign cc2018 and now my text frames do not adjust when different master pages are applied to pages. I'm about ready to pull my hair out.

What's the best way to go about setting up a primary text frame in an existing document which already has all it's content and the Master pages are created for margin adjustments and text variables and do not have text frames?

Everything just worked fine in cc2018 as text frames adjusted to master page changes. I'm about ready to revert back to cc2018.

Steve Werner

Community Expert

I can't answer that. When I teach about it, I recommend that such documents be created with Primary Text Frames from the beginning. I have little or no experience of trying to apply them after the fact. Maybe others do.

U

UnlimitedRefills

Participant

Thanks, so I guess moral of the story is to make sure you first create your document with primary text frames setup in your master pages. I've re-done my template with this feature. It's a shame that you cannot keep the same layout adjustment feature in cc2019 as cc2018 had though.

Steve Werner

Community Expert

A better way is to set up your main text flow with Primary Text Frames. Then when you apply a new master, it immediately picks up and uses the guides on the new master page. Read about it here:

InDesign Basics: Primary Text Frames - InDesignSecrets.com ...

TᴀW

Legend

Steve, I have to disagree with you there. Primary text frames are a nightmare to use. They spawn extra frames very easily. The link to them gets broken easily when combined with other features (e.g. auto-flow). I would avoid them like the plague.

Layout Adjustment should NOT have been removed from InDesign. It should still be there, alongside the new Adjust Layout for those who need it...

Ariel

Visit www.id-extras.com for powerful InDesign scripts that save hours of work — automation, batch tools, and workflow boosters for serious designers.

Steve Werner

Community Expert

We will agree to disagree, Ariel. If you wish to make that request for what is now a new feature you should be make it as InDesign User Voice:

Adobe InDesign Feedback

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