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Jeremy bowmangraphics
Jeremy bowmangraphics
Inspiring
August 6, 2023
Answered

Losing footnotes when importing a Word document

  • August 6, 2023
  • 3 replies
  • 1260 views

On a couple of occasions recently, after importing a Word document, I've discovered that some (but not all) of the footnotes were missing. Forced line breaks occured where the footnote markers used to be.

 

The fact that many of the original footnotes are retained is insidious — if they were all missing a script could put them back quite easily.

 

Has anyone else had this problem? Thanks in advance — Jeremy

 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Robert at ID-Tasker

Maybe try RTF instead of DOC(X/M) ?

 

3 replies

Barb Binder
Community Expert
Barb BinderCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 6, 2023

@Jeremy bowmangraphics:

 

I'm curious what version of InDesign this is happening in. Would you mind letting us know?

 

~Barb

~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
Jeremy bowmangraphics
Jeremy bowmangraphicsAuthor
Inspiring
August 6, 2023

I've using 18.5 × 64 in Windows 11. But the very same thing happened about a month ago, and I may have been using an earlier version then. As a rule, I use the latest version available.

    Barb Binder
    Community Expert
    Barb BinderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 6, 2023

    Thank you for sharing the version(s). This used to happen with some regularity about five years ago or so, but I haven't run into it lately. It's unsettling to hear that it is back, but also good to know so that I can check the final note numbers after importing but before formatting.

     

    ~Barb

    ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
      Robert at ID-Tasker
      Robert at ID-TaskerCorrect answer
      Legend
      August 6, 2023

      Maybe try RTF instead of DOC(X/M) ?

       

        Jeremy bowmangraphics
        Jeremy bowmangraphicsAuthor
        Inspiring
        August 6, 2023

        Aha! That worked — all 254 footnotes are importred, unlike the 232 that were imported with Word. Unfortunately, I've already done so much work on the InDesign document from Word that I'll probably just cut and paste the 22 missing footnotes. It's a pain, but a bit easier than starting over. Thanks! From now on, I'll be importing RTF only, and I'll be avoiding Word with even greater distaste than before.

        Robert at ID-Tasker
        Robert at ID-Tasker
        Legend
        August 6, 2023

        DOC(X/M) is Microsoft's proprietary format - RTF is open standard.

         

        E
        Community Expert
        Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        August 6, 2023

        How are you bringing it in?

        https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/importing-word-doc-with-footnotes/td-p/10499066

         

         

          Jeremy bowmangraphics
          Jeremy bowmangraphicsAuthor
          Inspiring
          August 6, 2023

          I brought it in using "Place" and a preset which I've used many times before. I tried "Place" without the preset, but the missing footnotes are still missing!

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