table does not keep its cells' alignment when dragged from library to the document

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
September 26, 2019
3 replies
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InDesign CS4: I am preparing a technical book full of figures and math equations. For numbered equations I made a text frame and inserted there a table, containing 1 row and 2 columns. The left column is for the equation and the right, a narrow one, for the equation number. I selected the cells and added horizontal align center for the left cell, and then align right for the number cell, and vertical align center for both. Selected the frame and the table inside and placed it in the library for the ease of using it. However, when later dragging the object from the library to the .indd document, the assigned alignments are lost and I have to reapply them each time for both equation and its number. Is there a way to make sure that the attributes assign to the object while making it are kept for the future use? The same loss of attributes occurs when using similar table in a frame a snippet.

On slightly different but related subject: can glyphs (like Greek italic characters) be placed in a library to avoid lengthy process of inserting needed symbols into the text?

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jane-e

Community Expert

You’re welcome, Jan.

jane-e

Community Expert

"added horizontal align center for the left cell, and then align right for the number cell, and vertical align center for both"

Hi

Cell styles will keep all the the formatting in Table > Cell Options, including the cell alignment and insets. If there is text, it can include the paragragraph style that includes Character and Paragraph formatting.

The table style can say always use this cell style for the first column and always use this other one for the right column. You have two columns, so that's all you need.

To create a cell style, click in a formatted cell, then create a new style.

Be sure to clear any overrides if you have done any local formatting.

~ Jane

J

janc38246194Author

Participating Frequently

Many thanks again Jane! I will try it. I just have to finish cleaning another mess that I have created myself. Jan

jane-e

Community Expert

Hi Jan,

Are you using Styles in your table? A table style that includes cell styles, and cell styles that include paragraph styles?

As for the glyphs, you can’t store text in an InDesign Library, only Frames. You would have to put the glyph in a frame, drag the frame out, and then copy and paste the glyph that’s in the frame. In the Glyphs panel, you can create your own glyph set and put your most used glyphs there. IMHO, that’s easier.

~ Jane