Inspiring

Question

How do you select the master for automatically-inserted blank pages?

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
May 7, 2025
2 replies
1683 views

When working within a book, you can have it automatically insert blank pages if a chapter doesn't start on the type of page you specify. But I can't find where you specify which master page to use for the inserted blank page. Where is this?

How to

Barb Binder

Community Expert

Hi Thomas:

Your ideas have merit so here is my gentle reminder to log these ideas as feature requests on the uservoice page: https://indesign.uservoice.com/

FrameMaker has a workaround to automate the TPILB addition to the even pages added during a book update but it doesn't work in InDesign because InDesign still can't attach a parent page to a paragraph style. There is a feature request already posted that you may want to vote for: https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601021-adobe-indesign-feature-requests/suggestions/31367593-apply-master-pages-based-on-paragraph-character-o

Please don't shoot the messenger! 😉

~Barb

~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training

T

Thomas_CalvinAuthor

Inspiring

Thanks Barb!

I don't shoot messengers! In fact, I'm usually the messenger dodging the bullets...

And yes, I do make feature requests or vote for existing ones. The one you linked to is good, but I don't think it solves the auto-generated-page-parent problem though.

rob day

Community Expert

Hi @Thomas_Calvin , How long is your combined document? Usually you only have to resort to a Book when you are on an old or under powered computer. Or when constructing extra long complex documents.

Mike Witherell

Community Expert

Hi Thomas,

File > New > Book...

Book panel menu button > Book Page Numbering Options

But you cannot directly choose a Parent page from this dialog box.

Mike Witherell

T

Thomas_CalvinAuthor

Inspiring

Thanks for the reply.

You can't specify the master to use for blank pages? I'd say "unbelievable," but sadly I've come to expect this kind of blunder in this application.

E

Eugene Tyson

Community Expert

Having built a 25 year career on typesetting books and designing magazines and using the InDesign Book feature, I've never encountered a need for this feature. Intriguing though. It could be useful.

Typically I set it up in the Book Panel to isnert the blank at the end and then apply the Parent Page I need.

Some times I dont' need the same Parent Page each time, sometimes it's a different Parent Page for the blank, some are notes with Lines for writing on, some say intentionally blank page - etc.

I've always felt that the choice should be mine and to make it without any prompting.

But I get the idea - could be useful - you can always post a feature request here.

https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601021-adobe-indesign-feature-requests

How is it a blunder? Can you elaborate on how you see it working?

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