How to use a text box like Indesign. f.i. a red square box with green text in it

[Laarakkers]

Hi there,

Im making organizational charts. I prefer making them in Indesign so i can re arrange the the text boxes to fit perfectly in my chart while the text is following. But my Clients want them in Illustraor. Is there an easy way to open my Indesign files in Illustrator without all text being set to single line point text or even outlines. Or to make text boxes in Illustrator with an backgroun colour or an outline colour?

Thanks from the Netherlands

Janneke

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

To make this kind of text in Illustrator:

click and drag with the text tool to make area text.

Type your text.

Select the text frame with the direct selection tool. You have to click precisely on the text.

Then apply a fill color

Set the area text attributes

[Laarakkers]

Hi, Thanks but it will only make it possible to change the text colour, not the background of the text frame nor the line of the text frame. Or i still don't see it?!?? Im dutch so by' Selact the text frame.... you mean click on it with the black arrow, i did. I clicked on the frame as well as the text i can only change the colour of the text. 

What do you mean with: Set the area text attributtes?

[Monika Gause]

I said: select it with the direct selection tool. Not the black arrow. And you have to click on the path, not the area.

As for the text area attributes: it's in the Type menu: Area type options.

As for editing the text itself: select it with the text tool.

[Laarakkers]

Thanks, it worked and i made it happen 😉 

But now i miss a margin between the text and the frame so still no easy way for me. It seems to me you know a lot about this. So my guess is that making these charts is way better and easier in Illustrator right? I go and tell my client. 

[Monika Gause]

You can set up the margin in the area type options.

Please show us what it is that you want to do. We need the big picture. A lot of layout, typograhpy and text is done better in InDesign.

[Laarakkers]

i cant because of the sensitive Company information. But!! I found it.

I forced myself to make them in illustrator en all of the sudden i found an option field for 'vlaktekst' in Dutch (Frame tekst) and now im a happy person :))

Thanks!

[Luke Jennings3]

Try exporting your InDesign file as a PDF, then open the PDF in Illustrator and save. Illustrator is not a universal PDF editor, but it might work in your particular case. 

[Laarakkers]

Yes but the thing is; Illustrator messes with all the text frames; it outlines some text en makes the rest point text in stead of frames..

[pixxxelschubser · Accepted solution]

What @Monika Gause said.

Maybe a bit clearer (easier to do):

• first select the text frame with the black arrow
• then click an anchor point on the text frame with the white arrow
• then set the desired color

However, you absolutely need areatext (and not pointtext).

[Ton Frederiks]

You can make them in InDesign, drag them to a CC library and drag them (with or without Alt key) in Illustrator to the artboard.

[Laarakkers]

It becomes a image no vectors anymore. 

[Ton Frederiks]

Try dragging fro the library with the Alt key down