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Question

Style management: Object style based on another object style

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
December 5, 2024
3 replies
2376 views

I am trying to create an object style that specifies x,y position and width, and then create other styles based on that one. However, it appears that size and position do not stay synchronized with the parent object style. Is this a bug or is this how it actually operates? I want to be able to keep that specification in one style and not have to update it in 3 other styles if things change.

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Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

I just tested it and you are correct. I made a parent style and a child (based-on) style. Then I edited the size of the parent, the child was not modified, unlike how most parent/child settings work. There were no overrides on either object.

I noticed this was in the InDesign User Voice as a feature request, although I would say it is a bug.

https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601021-adobe-indesign-feature-requests/suggestions/44540442-child-object-styles-to-inherit-parent-size-and-pos

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

Robert at ID-Tasker

Legend

@Dave Creamer of IDEAS

I think it's a deliberate action from coders.

If you try what I've tested - create a child ObjectStyle, untick Size & Position options, apply to newly created object, then tick it again - changes made in the parent are reflected on the child style.

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

@Robert at ID-Tasker

Possibley deliberate but could have been an oversite by the programmers. The Size & Position was a later feature* and it was probably overlooked or decided to diffcult to impliment. However, it goes against most other parent/child settings in the program.

*Object styles were added in 2005 but size/position options were added in 2017.

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

Robert at ID-Tasker

Legend

@Leah_MTMPLS

You have formatting based on / applied through Style - and you have local formatting applied directly.

Local formatting always overrides what is in the style.

E

Eugene Tyson

Community Expert

I understand the issue you're facing, and I can see how it's causing confusion.

I wouldn’t classify it as a bug, but it’s definitely something that could be improved as a future enhancement.

What’s happening is that the frame is initially tied to the first object style. However, when you edit the size and position, it breaks the link to the original style. Once that link is broken, any changes made to the original style will no longer affect the frame.

You can make feature requests here

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

Robert at ID-Tasker

Legend

@Eugene Tyson

I think OP is referring to Styles - not objects?

Anyway, change to the formatting of the object is classed as an override - so any change to the applied style will be ignored - same as it's with Char / ParaStyles - you need to clear override first. Or Master Page items.

jmlevy

Community Expert

Hmm… I disagree with you, @Robert at ID-Tasker

Let's say that you create a paragraph style (name it 1) using Helvetica Neue Roman, 12 pt then create a new style (named 2) based on style 1, whose the only difference is that it's Helvetica Neue Bold instead of Roman. If you modify afterwards the font size of style 1, font size of style 2 will be also modified.

It should be the same for an object style: you should be able to create an object style whose attributes are for example a 10 cm x 10 cm blue square, then create a second object style based on the first one whose size is the same but using a different color. It would be logical that if you change the size in the first object style, the size will also change in the second object style.

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