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Participant
October 5, 2026
Question

Wanr to edit text boxes in more than 500 normal pages without overriding method inDesign

  • October 5, 2026
  • 8 replies
  • 44 views

hello all, i attached below my parent page snapshot. i want to create more than 500pages using same parents page but the real problem all normal pages are had different contents i want to pick from word document. so any one can assist me to get a easy solution without overriding method. i have deadline only 5days

 

    8 replies

    Dave Creamer of IDEAS
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    October 5, 2026

    Since your base layout is on the parent pages, you can select all the (desired) pages in the Page panel and then use the panel’s menu to Override All Parent Page Items to unlock them for page-by-page editing. 

    If you want to keep some items from the parent pages locked, put those items on a separate layer and lock the layer. 

    Use paragraph and character styles in Word and match them up to the InDesign styles. It’s easier if they have the same name, but not necessary. You can save the style match-up settings for future use. You get to those options by Shift-clicking the open button when placing the text (don’t paste).

     

    Another option is to use the Word styles as mentioned. Put all the entries in one document with page breaks between each entry in Word. Set up InDesign using the Primary Text frame. (You don’t have to override them.) Import the text, matching the styles and make sure you maintain page breaks. The layouts should flow automatically.

    David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
    Participant
    October 6, 2026

    hi sir, how can i import the all entries from one word file into the primary text frame, because i’m new for indesign

    leo.r
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    October 6, 2026
    ​@smooth_mentor318a 
    i have deadline only 5days
    because i’m new for indesign


    Look. I’m sorry but I have to give you a reality check regarding your expectations. If you’re new to InDesign and have a 5-day deadline (now 4) for this quite a complex project, you’re unlikely to achieve what you need. Yes, you can get an advice here and there regarding some specific functionalities. But if you’re new to InDesign, you won’t understand much of it anyway, unfortunately (as is already witnessed).

    InDesign is a complex tool that requires time to learn and master. Depending on your pace and other factors, you’ll need anything from weeks to months of training and hands-on experience till you get relatively comfortable using it for client jobs.

    Here’s a video that explains how to use primary frames. But, again, you’ll stall on the next step anyway, unfortunately.
     

     

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    October 5, 2026

    You should be able to set up that layout using just paragraph formatting.

    Then you could use the formats from the Word document (they are properly formatted, right?) and map them to the InDesign formats. And then this could even be automized.

    Participant
    October 5, 2026

    How can i map them to the InDesign formats. And automized.

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    October 5, 2026

    You have to show options and then click on Customize when importing the Word document: https://helpx.adobe.com/de/indesign/desktop/format-and-style-text/text-styles/map-word-styles.html