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February 3, 2022
Answered

Two different languages ​​but one language footnote

  • February 3, 2022
  • 3 replies
  • 988 views
My client made the following request for a book study;
The book will be prepared in 2 different languages ​​on the opposite pages
(left page is Greek, right page is English),
headings on opposite pages will continue to be parallel to each other,
however, footnotes will be used in one language and long footnotes will continue as right-left pages.
Is there any solution to do this?
This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Barb Binder

I'm reading it the same way as @Doc Maik, so if correct, this is yet another case for InDesign to allow footnote cross-references. That would allow you to add the footnote to the English side, and then cross-refererence the footnote reference number on the Greek side, so that both reference numbers are pointing to the same footnote. If you add a footnote in the middle, all the footnote numbers and cross-references to those numbers will update.

 

This feature is still not available in InDesign, but has been requested:

https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601021-adobe-indesign-feature-requests/suggestions/31730974-enhanced-cross-references-footnotes

 

In the meantime, @istos22981053eke3, it looks like this plug-in can handle it. I haven't tested it. 

https://www.dtptools.com/help.asp?id=40

 

~Barb

3 replies

Barb Binder
Community Expert
Barb BinderCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
April 5, 2022

I'm reading it the same way as @Doc Maik, so if correct, this is yet another case for InDesign to allow footnote cross-references. That would allow you to add the footnote to the English side, and then cross-refererence the footnote reference number on the Greek side, so that both reference numbers are pointing to the same footnote. If you add a footnote in the middle, all the footnote numbers and cross-references to those numbers will update.

 

This feature is still not available in InDesign, but has been requested:

https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601021-adobe-indesign-feature-requests/suggestions/31730974-enhanced-cross-references-footnotes

 

In the meantime, @istos22981053eke3, it looks like this plug-in can handle it. I haven't tested it. 

https://www.dtptools.com/help.asp?id=40

 

~Barb

~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
rob day
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 5, 2022

Hi @istos22981053eke3 , language is a character level property, so you can create both Paragraph and Character styles for the languages you want to use in a document:

 

Legend
April 5, 2022

I think what he has in mind is to place the same foot note index in the two different texts, but to have only one foot note shown at the bottom. That is nothing related to styles or language. If you place two indexes, you would have two foot notes with the same number.

Legend
April 5, 2022

The only that comes to my mind: do not place an actual foot note indicator for the other language, but imitate it manually. Since foot note counting begins anew on every page, this is not gonna be too much work.

However, regarding the "long foot notes will continue as right-left pages" I'm not sure what you mean. From what I know, they will always remain in the text frame where they were placed.

Peter Kahrel
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 5, 2022

We need some good examples to show what is and what is not allowed. From the short description it's not easy to visualise things. "long foot notes will continue as right-left pages" probably simply is standard footnote behaviour: a footnote that doesn't fit entirely on a page is continued on the next page. The question is whether a footnote on the left-hand page.

 

The problem may be that the two languages are in separate stories so that there are two footnote streams, each numbered separately, while the footnotes should probably probably be numbered as if they're in one story.

 

The way to handle that is to convert all the notes to normal text and run all the notes as a single, separate, story at the foot of the text frame. Just like we did before InDesign had prpoer footnotes.

 

P.

Legend
April 6, 2022
quote

... while the footnotes should probably probably be numbered as if they're in one story.

By @Peter Kahrel

Right, that's what I understood.