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emcsquare26
Participating Frequently
January 8, 2017
Answered

Converting Justifications and Spacings

  • January 8, 2017
  • 1 reply
  • 729 views

Hello,
I have a slightly beginner - level question here about Indesign;

I am trying to convert some text from aligned left to the justified formats in IDCS6, and naturally the spacing alters when I do so. Is there anyway I can convert the spacing to "normal" for lack of better description when I shift the alignment, or do I have to retype the copy manually in the new alignment?

Please and Thank you

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer smoothsea

Hi,

My guess is that you have shift-returns at the ends of your lines. In your Type menu is "Show Hidden Characters". Turn it on if it's not already and you'll see a different character like a backward arrow (tried to do a screenshot but failed, sorry).

Anyway, shift-returns force-justify the line, so at the end of lines such as "LOVED ONES", you need a standard return instead (just hit the Enter key).

Regards,

Malcolm

1 reply

Barb Binder
Community Expert
Barb BinderCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 8, 2017

convert the spacing to "normal"

What exactly, is happening to the spacing when you change the paragraph alignment from align left to justified? It should just reflow.

What version of InDesign are you using?

~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
E
emcsquare26Author
Participating Frequently
January 8, 2017

Hello!

Sorry for lack of clarity, but I am using CS6

This is the issue that I have been having, in the screenshot below;
So, the top text was originally set to "justify with last line aligned to center", but the bottom paragraph/ text sample is a result of me simply clicking the "justify all lines" setting, and I can't seem to manually edit the spacing or leading at all.

The strange thing is whenever I type something in the document, and convert the text to a justified setting, the spacing and leading seemingly goes out of control, and I can't even backspace anything or modify anything manually. However, I've noticed when I copy text from online samples, like lorem ipsum for instance, I do not run into this issue at all, and can convert things from justified to ragged and back without any issue. Is there some default setting(s) in my document that I need to check/ uncheck?
(This text is from a DnD campaign/ story I'm writing with some friends, so as not to raise any concerns about the content , but I would like to know in general as well, as I've occasionally had this issue in the past but it's only happened again recently)

Barb Binder
Community Expert
Barb BinderCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 8, 2017

Hmmm. I can see why you are not happy!

Justify all lines is supposed to force all lines across the entire text frame. What happens when you select Justify with last line aligned left? Does that give you the desired result?

~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
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