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C
coopjack
Inspiring
May 13, 2015
Answered

best way to build an Anno Layer ... Anchored Objects ... Script?

  • May 13, 2015
  • 2 replies
  • 752 views

I have been researching this problem for a while and have decided a script might be what I need...

I have a 100% completed textbook. The next step will be to add an Anno (i.e. "annotation" or "Teacher's) layer on top of the student text, to create the version of the book that will be sent to teachers. This layer needs to be able to be easily turned on/off so we can keep one Master file for both the SE (Student Edtion) and TE (Teacher Edition).

The Anno text is 100% Magenta inside a 90% white fill box with a light drop shadow. The simplest way would be to just put a separate Anno layer on top of everything. BUT.... in the future when edits are made which change line length, the Anno layer will need to be manually altered to match the text edit. We are trying to avoid that.

It would be great if I could place the Annos as Anchored Objects within the text and then move the Anchored Objects to their own layer...but I can't do that. I know the individual objects can have their visibility turned on/off in the Layers palette, but it become burdensome to turn on/off numerous individual objects one at a time on many different spreads. (This is a 500-page book).

Is there a way to create these Anchored Objects – numerous Anno objects across many spreads -- and somehow link them together so that they can be turned on/off all at once, or tagged in some way that would make it easy to turn them on/off?

Other suggestions?

The Anno boxes can go anywhere on the page, even over existing text.

 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Vamitul

even better, you could use indesign's Conditional Text feature, that was specifically created for this exact problem (i think the official documentation actually used a teacher vs student edition of a document to illustrate how to use it)
https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/editing-text.html#use_conditional_text

2 replies

Vamitul
VamitulCorrect answer
Legend
May 13, 2015

even better, you could use indesign's Conditional Text feature, that was specifically created for this exact problem (i think the official documentation actually used a teacher vs student edition of a document to illustrate how to use it)
https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/editing-text.html#use_conditional_text

C
coopjackAuthor
Inspiring
May 13, 2015

Hmmm...I like how Conditional Text is working. Since I can put an Anchored Object on it's own layer.

I think this is worth playing with.

P
Pickory
Legend
May 13, 2015

Hello,

You could use InDesign notes. A script could be created to convert the notes to the annotation layer you describe.

P.

C
coopjackAuthor
Inspiring
May 13, 2015

Interesting.

So you could covert the note to a text box with applied Object Styles? Then, you'd have to be able to convert them back to Notes again to hide them...

P
Pickory
Legend
May 13, 2015

The notes would go to a disposable layer.

Conditional text is better, no script required.

P.

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