10 doc languages in 1 doc

[Juan Carlos5FDE]

Hello,

We have 10 documents. The documents are the same (pictures, etc), but for 10 languages (text changes).

1 document per language.

So every time we need to change something, we have to change it on 10 different InDesign docs. Example: Add/Change a picture, Correct mistakes...We are changing the same, but 10 times, takes 10x longer..

Is there any form to optimize this process?

We elaborate the English version first and the Traduction Company, send us the other 9 files separately.

I have thought about separate it by layers:

a) Common pictures / elements / arrows..... (this appears on every traduction doc in the same position)

b) Create one layer for each language. So I can hide/show the language. And If I change a picture will change in all languages.

The problem is to select each text from each document (100 pages x 9 docs x ~5 texts per page)..and then delete the common pictures that will only have the original version.

Would appreciate any suggestion from your side as I'm not InDesign expert.

Thanks in advance!

Kind Regards.

[Barb Binder]

Hi @Juan Carlos5FDE:

InDesign options for multi-language documents include:

1. Layers. One for the images, one for each language. I would finalize the primary language version, hide the primary language layer then create a new layer and import the text for that layer into threaded frames. Adjust each page so that the new language fits and then repeat for the remaing 8 languages.
2. Condition tags. One for each language. Be sure to work with primary frames and smart text reflow enabled. 
   https://www.linkedin.com/learning/indesign-multilingual-publishing-strategies/working-with-multiple-... 
3. Alternate layouts. One layout for each language and link the graphics with Edit > Place and Link so that you can edit the parent graphic and the child graphics will update.
   https://creativepro.com/indesign-how-using-alternate-layout/ but instead of using different paper sizes you would have a layout for each language.
4. A third-party solution that may be worth exporing: https://redokun.com/blog/indesign-translation-solution

~Barb

[Juan Carlos5FDE]

Hi Bard,

Thanks for your answer.

I think I'll try to implement option n.2.

But I'm having a problem: I have a lot of tables inside the document and to give a condition to the text inside the table, I have to do it cell by cell. Is there any option to select/give condition to all the text inside the table?

In the picture attached you can see how I select 4 cells, and I can't give them any condition.

Thanks again..if I can do it that way the problem would be solved! 😄

Kind Regards.

[Juan Carlos5FDE]

Also,

Can I change the order of the differents Conditional Text If I want to combine 2 of them?

Thanks in advance again..

[Juan Carlos5FDE]

Last note;

If I want to do it by the 1st option you suggested me; Layers, I also have a problem.

The idea is to select each Text frame and Ctrl X from original layer/doc + Ctrl V on the different language layers. So 10 layers for 10 languages in 1 doc. It's a very good idea.

The bad thing is that I am not able to select multiple text frames from different pages....(look attached picture).

It only allows me to select elements from the same page/spread.

So options 1 and 2 are very good ideas but I don't know how to solve that 2 problems before explained of each option.

[Barb Binder]

Hi @Juan Carlos5FDE: 

I agree with the use of layers over condition tags, which can be applied to text within table cells, but not to table cells, columns, or rows. 

Now, let's talk about your layout. I see the issue with moving the unthreaded frames to layers—and don't know a quicker way—but a 100 page doc should be in threaded frames. If you link them together and use column and page breaks to control the positioning, this would be much easier to manage—whether it is one language or ten.

~Barb 

[Laubender]

Hi Juan Carlos5FDE,

from my experience: Stay with 10 documents for 10 languages!

You'll be more flexible when it comes to text length and image positioning.

And you will avoid situations in the future where it becomes difficult or impossible to get along with some features you may not need today, but will in the future. Organizing the languages in layers will fail in the moment you need footnotes and endnotes, because you have to set different footnote options for different languages or different endnote settings for different languages or different index sorting methods for different alphabetical orders with different languages. It will also fail or will become insanely difficult if CJK (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) scripts come into play.

And another thing:

If you have 10 different documents for 10 different languages it is easier to hand out the work for different language specialists.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[Diane Burns]

Having done hundreds of such documents, I would like to add that I agree with Uwe, for the many reasons he cites. Unless the document is short and simple, in which case, layers might work. 

[Juan Carlos5FDE]

The problem is that this documents are in constantly change....we are on RV7 now.

A simple table/picture change, I have to do it 10 times.