Inspiring

Answered

Can I lock the size of a text box but still move it?

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
August 16, 2022
3 replies
1218 views

I love mathmatical accuracy for spacing my text and find that using text boxes is the fastest/easiest way for me to accomplish this.

A "1" box denotes one inch (e.g.).

The problem I find is that sometimes, while moving the boxes, their sizes will change (e.g. .987x.987), which can screw up a single chapter in a book or the entire book, if I'm not paying attention.

Is there any way to lock the size of the box but still make it capable of being moved?

I have a long explanation of why I do this instead of guides. This works better for my flow.

How to

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer James Gifford—NitroPress

This is a function of the object style, which probably varies from chapter to chapter file since you may never have defined it.

Create a specific, named Object Style for each of these objects you like to use. Then make sure it is identical in all your work files, which you can do with synchronization through a Book file, or by placing an example and then resetting the style to match it.

Ask away if any of that doesn't make sense.

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rob day

Community Expert

Hi @Formost Fuji Corporate , can you post a screen capture showing an example? I’m wondering why you need separate text frames—why not use Paragraph Styles with Space Above or Space below to handle consistent spacing?

F

Formost Fuji CorporateAuthor

Inspiring

This is an example (in standard, not metric) of what I use in documentation

However, sometimes when cutting and pasting between documents, I could have... for example .5 look identical, however, its dimensions change to .485" x .485", which can be seen in the menu bar here:

These, are obviously accurate, as I already input the correct numbers to fix the initial issue, but it throws everything off pretty quickly.

James Gifford—NitroPress

Legend

That sounds like a difference in an outline. Box dimensions change with the application of an outer stroke; perhaps the different definitions are changing or deleting an outline?

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John Mensinger

Community Expert

While I can't relate to your apparent workflow at all, I would say that the size of an InDesign text frame doesn't change when the frame is moved. If you mean that you might inadvertently resize the frame when attempting only to move it, that I could see, I suppose, even if it doesn't follow with someone so insistent upon mathematical precision.

The only other thing I could say that might address your question is that you could use Object Styles to enforce frame sizes and provide a quick and easy fix for any that become missized.

F

Formost Fuji CorporateAuthor

Inspiring

I work in the engineering department and am making technical documentation.

Much of the time, I move them with the arrow keys (as I have experienced the change in size otherwise), and with using ctrl + C/V to go from one to another should NOT change the size of these boxes, however, I have found this to be the case.

James Gifford—NitroPress

Legend

I believe the short answer is "no." You can lock an object against all changes, or unlock it for all purposes, but there is no selective locking of things like size, line weight, colors, font etc.

If you use some care in selecting an object for positioning, it should not change any other characteristic.

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F

Formost Fuji CorporateAuthor

Inspiring

That's what I was afraid of. The thing I'm seeing is that if I'm moving from one chapter to another, the bounding on the box changes, making it more that I have to rebuild them with each chapter instead of being able to load them in the way I would paragraph styles.

Too bad, but thanks for the response.

James Gifford—NitroPressCorrect answer

Legend

This is a function of the object style, which probably varies from chapter to chapter file since you may never have defined it.

Create a specific, named Object Style for each of these objects you like to use. Then make sure it is identical in all your work files, which you can do with synchronization through a Book file, or by placing an example and then resetting the style to match it.

Ask away if any of that doesn't make sense.

—

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