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sandrac12345
Participating Frequently
March 13, 2019
Answered

trouble with import options in InDesign

  • March 13, 2019
  • 5 replies
  • 5900 views

Hello,

I just recently upgraded from CS6 to CC and I now have problems with my import options in Indesign. When I link a file, I want it to use the "trim" settings in the "Crop To" selection as a default (which it was in CS6). In CC I can't seem to find a setting where I can select that. Now every time I link a new file it has "Bounding Box" as it's "Crop to" setting. So I have to manually update every single link. I use a lot of linked files in my layouts, so it's really annoying and time-consuming to have to go back in and adjust them all. I tried to google but nothing really helpful seems to come up. So I was wondering if anyone has a tip or had the same problem and can point me to how I can get this fixed. Thanks for your efforts!

-Sandra

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Correct answer Test Screen Name

I'm seeing references to both "place" and "drop" in this discussion. Are these really interchangeable?

5 replies

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Test Screen NameCorrect answer
Legend
March 13, 2019

I'm seeing references to both "place" and "drop" in this discussion. Are these really interchangeable?

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sandrac12345Author
Participating Frequently
March 13, 2019

THANK YOU! I guess they aren't as doing it with "File --> place" fixed it. the selection now stays. I always just dragged the image in. Didn't realize it would matter. thought it was all the same how I got the image into my InDesign.

Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com
Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com
Legend
March 13, 2019

sandrac12345  wrote

I always just dragged the image in. Didn't realize it would matter. thought it was all the same how I got the image into my InDesign.

And now you know!

Clarifying the issue for others who will see this thread...

It's very common that InDesigners think they will have full control when they use the short-cut of dragging and dropping items into the layout.

Whether we drag and drop from Finder (Mac), File Explorer (Windows), DropBox or other cloud storage, or if we copy/paste from Photoshop, Illustrator or Word into InDesign, those shortcuts bypass the excellent import controls built into InDesign's File / Place utility.

Although the shortcuts are convenient and quick, they can cause some problems:

  • No control of how the graphic will be imported, such as the trim vs. bounding box issue in this post.
  • Can't select which page(s) of a PDF will be placed into the layout.
  • No control of how spreadsheet data will be converted into an InDesign table, or which range of cells will come in.
  • Copy/paste from word processing and emails brings in all the manual formatting, as well as a lot of hidden code that's difficult to remove.
  • And if you're making an EPUB or accessible PDF, you lose any of the metadata in the graphic files, such as the Alt-text.

It's perfectly OK to use the shortcuts, but use them wisely; know their limitations and understand that sometimes you'll need to do things the ol' fashioned way (File / Place / Import Options).

|    Bevi Chagnon   |  Designer, Trainer, & Technologist for Accessible Documents ||    PubCom |    Classes & Books for Accessible InDesign, PDFs & MS Office |
BarbLovesInDesign
BarbLovesInDesign
Inspiring
March 13, 2019

I do find that, for most of my work, and I am sure it isn't the same for many users, the default of checked or unchecked, is the opposite on Import and Replace from what I need.  It would be nice if this was also managed in preferences.

BarbLovesInDesign
BarbLovesInDesign
Inspiring
March 13, 2019

Try un-checking the import options, for me that usually makes it keep the previously chosen settings, from when the file was last placed.

Jeff Witchel, ACI
Community Expert
Jeff Witchel, ACICommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 13, 2019

That's the one thing I did not test. I never check import options. I instead hold down Shift when opening a file to get to Import Options only when I want to.

BarbLovesInDesign
BarbLovesInDesign
Inspiring
March 13, 2019

I find I have too much trouble remember what has that sort of option (shift when selecting, for example) and what doesn't.  Wish I could.

Jeff Witchel, ACI
Community Expert
Jeff Witchel, ACICommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 13, 2019

Hi Sandra,

If you're Placing AI or PDF files the Trim setting still exists as it did in CS6. See Screenshot below.

Here's a link to info about the various Options available for Placing different file formats into InDesign: How to place, import, and insert images into InDesign

Steve Werner
Community Expert
Steve WernerCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 13, 2019

In InDesign CC, Import Options should be in the same place as in CS6 (see below):

If you're on a Mac, some macOS versions hide under the Options button at the bottom left and you have to click the first. In Mojave it returned to its normal position.

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    sandrac12345Author
    Participating Frequently
    March 13, 2019

    thanks for your response, but it's not the import options itself I'm looking for (I have those), but a selection within them. I want the "Trim" selection to be my default. Currently, it is not so linked files always cut parts off, cuz the setting is wrong. And yes, I'm on Mac OS and it's updated to Mojave.

    T
    Test Screen Name
    Legend
    March 13, 2019

    So the selection works, but you have to select it each time, and you are not doing so?

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