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M
milko259349307s4y
Inspiring
February 9, 2024
Answered

conditional text - make two languages coexist in the same manual

  • February 9, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 532 views

good morning, I made a manual in two languages and I used conditional text to alternately show/hide one of the two versions.

I did it like this:
I create the paragraph in Italian and apply the 1ST condition to it
I create the translation of the previous paragraph and apply the 2ND condition to it
so for each paragraph and each title, etc.

this procedure creates some difficulties for me, because after completing the manual, if I switch from 1ST to 2ND condition, I have to be careful to proceed like this, otherwise I will lose paragraph styles:
with the 1ST condition active, I must activate the 2ND condition and only after deactivate the 1ST condition.

furthermore, the numbering of the figures increases even if the figure is hidden due to the condition being deactivated at that moment.

also cross-reference works bad: a lot of warning in the reference panel...

 

maybe I must create two distinct paragraph style for each language...

How do you layout a bilingual document with conditional text?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Willi Adelberger

Conditional text is not for different languages. I don't think that it will help here.

 

2 replies

Robert at ID-Tasker
Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
February 9, 2024
quote

How do you layout a bilingual document with conditional text?


By @milko259349307s4y

 

It depends on the design.

 

If you can / need to keep everything in the same places - use separate layers. 

 

If it's just a translation - separate files. 

 

    Willi Adelberger
    Community Expert
    Willi AdelbergerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 9, 2024
    1. Create your paragraph style sytem with a base style in a style folder for the first language.
    2. Duplicate the style folder and change its base style to the other language, so all other styles in that folder inherit that change.

    Every language needs its paragraph styles.

     

    The other described things I do not understand, what you mean.

      M
      milko259349307s4yAuthor
      Inspiring
      February 9, 2024

      Hi Will

      thx for reply.

      I mean I've got some problem using conditional text to manage two version of a manual in the same 104 pages document.

      The question is: is it a bad idea to use conditional text to manage two languages version in the same document ?

       

      @Robert at ID-Tasker

      thx for your suggestion I'll keep in mind.

      😄

       

      anyway when I paginate datasheet (very  simple, two/six pages) I'm using conditional text and it is usueful.

      Vivek12
      Community Manager
      Vivek12Community Manager
      Community Manager
      February 9, 2024

      @milko259349307s4y  Thank you for reaching out to us. Apart from the steps suggested by Willi, you may also read some good practices related to the same shared in the below mentioned community threads:-
      Layout a dual language book
      Word to inDesign with bilingual language using table

      Regards,
      Vivek

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