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Question

Any suggestions of redesigning this map?

Forum|Forum|8 months ago
May 11, 2025
5 replies
534 views

Here we have a map of locations, each numbered. The following page will include the name of the locations. This map gets updated regularly with new locations, and subsequebtly, the list of locations regularly gets updated too. So for example, if a new location is added which needs to be 'number 1', I'd have to change the order of all the numbers on the map and all the locations on the list, which is a bit of an ordeal.

I'm wondering if there's a function/method within any of the adobe apps of achieving this job in a simpler more automated way i.e. making each amendment non-manually? These designs will need to be printed out, so I'm thinking InDesign is the best application for this, though feel free to correct me on this.

Robert at ID-Tasker

Legend

@multitalented_Mercury9839

There was a thread a few months ago - with EXACTLY the same request:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/is-it-possible-to-to-link-to-a-map-on-the-same-page-and-have-it-auto-update/td-p/15131600

You just need to remember to update both list at the same time - as they're not linked.

If you need a clarification - please let me know.

Robert at ID-Tasker

Legend

@multitalented_Mercury9839

Uwe @Laubender just posted an update in the thread I've mentioned - which will give you 2-in-1:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/is-it-possible-to-to-link-to-a-map-on-the-same-page-and-have-it-auto-update/m-p/15331396#M625531

m1b

Community Expert

Hi @multitalented_Mercury9839 I couldn't help myself, and I've written a quick script for this. I had already started scripting this before I saw @Willi Adelberger's excellent answer, so that is definitely a great way to go also.

If you try it out, let me know how it goes. Try it first with the attached demo.indd so you can see the set up.

The place markers (on the right) have a script label (see Window > Utilities > Script Label menu) which matches up with the text of one of the numbered listings (on the left).

If they don't match, the script will warn you, and you need to fix it (otherwise your numbering will be wrong).

When you add or remove, or re-arrange the listings, run the script again to update it. (If you delete a listing, don't forget to delete the marker, of course.)

Edit: I've added a UI and improved a few things on the script and added it to my github repo, where you will find the script as well as instructions, or you can download the script directly.

- Mark

demo.zip

Willi Adelberger

Community Expert

A while ago I made this recommendation:

https://youtu.be/emzvbRhmxUs?si=gWjkwoXceuBgLiLr

m1b

Community Expert

Hi @multitalented_Mercury9839 Interesting! How do you get the data? Can you get map coordinates? If so, perhaps you could make a mapping between the real-world coordinates and the map cordinates (in pts)? Are the locations completely random, or are they randomly picked from a set of possible map locations?

Edit: sorry I didn't read your post carefully. This is a good candidate for a script, I reckon. Let me think about it.

- Mark

BobLevine

Community Expert

You could probably use numbered lists in InDesign but you still have your work cut out for you.

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