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B. Y.
Participant
Nov 15, 2025 8:15 PM UTC
Question

Is a Book file for separate books a good idea?

I  have a 7 book series that all are identical in styles and have quite complicated TOC's and Styles

Is a book file an option to maintain and keep consistent all the styles, better than just updating one file and loading the style to the others (I don't know how anything about Book files)

I still need seperate cover pages/TOC's/page numbers etc. for all 7 seperate books, they are to be printed as completely seperate books.

Thanks in advance for your time & patience

3 replies

Dave Creamer of IDEAS
Community Expert
Community Expert
Nov 18, 2025 6:54 PM UTC

If the documents are to be printed as separate books, it doesn't make sense to use a book file. The book file is mainly to link separate documents into one large "document". 

 

You can still sync settings by using the "Load" settings. Shown below are the paragraph/character styles, parent pages, and TOC styles. NOTE: style/settings MUST have the same name (but that's true with a book file too).

 

IF you do want a book to sync settings, make SURE you disable auto numbering and insert blank pages BEFORE inserting any files. My settings do depend on each file starting on an odd (right/recto) page. 

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David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
John D Herzog
Inspiring
Nov 18, 2025 6:27 PM UTC

It would probably be better to get everything set up in one book, then make an imdl template to start the other books.

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Peter Spier
Community Expert
Community Expert
Nov 15, 2025 8:38 PM UTC

My instinct is this is not the way to go, if for no other reason than you need maintain control over page numbering for each individual book.

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