Adjust Layout vs Enable Layout Adjustment

[timd20867042]

I work in book publishing so changing the size of a document is rarely done, but applying a master page with a different margin is a given to almost every project.

Is there a way to still perform the function of Enable Layout Adjustment or is that gone to the wayside? For example, I could apply a master to a page and the objects adjacent to the margins would automatically snap to the size of the master. Items that were not touching the margins like ornaments or other text boxes would remain in place.

Using the new Layout Adjustment feature, it does too much work and adjusts every object on the page, so it seems more problematic than helpful. Moreover, applying a different master to a page no longer automatically adjusts the boxes sizes to my margins.

[Steve Werner]

A better way is to set up your main text flow with Primary Text Frames. Then when you apply a new master, it immediately picks up and uses the guides on the new master page. Read about it here:

InDesign Basics: Primary Text Frames - InDesignSecrets.com ...

[TᴀW]

Steve, I have to disagree with you there. Primary text frames are a nightmare to use. They spawn extra frames very easily. The link to them gets broken easily when combined with other features (e.g. auto-flow). I would avoid them like the plague.

Layout Adjustment should NOT have been removed from InDesign. It should still be there, alongside the new Adjust Layout for those who need it...

Ariel

[Steve Werner]

We will agree to disagree, Ariel. If you wish to make that request for what is now a new feature you should be make it as InDesign User Voice:

Adobe InDesign Feedback

[Laubender · Accepted solution]

Hi Ariel,

you could add your voice here and vote for a bugfix:

Text margins don't change when master pages are applied – Adobe InDesign Feedback

Or do a new bug report or feature request.

I also think, that the old Layout Adjustment feature has it's merits.

Adjust Layout is still not able to replace it in every aspect.

Regards,
Uwe

[Troy Deckert]

A few questions about some problems: The Adobe User Guide on primary text frames give no warning about "spawing" extra frames (Problem #1) as you, Ariel, mention here, calling it a nightmare to use, but with no specifics about how and why that is. But I now have a nightmare of text boxes that I didn't even realize were lying underneath my top text thread. I now have just discovered all kinds of extra text frames amidst my 350 page book. Since this comment in this thread is the first reference I've seen to creating or "spawning" unwanted text frames, and I don't even know how that happens.  But now there are so many, it's a big mess, although all this time, the text links seemed to go from page 1 to page 380 pretty well (except for a few added pages with charts which sat independently). But now lurking under the text frames are lots of other text frames, like ones that jump from page 50 to page 125, for example. I'm scared to even delete anything. Good grief Adobe, how about some warning as to how this happens? I'm a rookie, sure, but I'm following the Kvern/Blatner textbook and the official Adobe User Guide, so I expected to be safe. Some text boxes are primary at the end of the book, but the first 100 pages are not primary (even though the main parents and section parents all have primary text boxes), so I can't change the margins using parents on the first 100 pages (Problem #2).  In delving into all these text boxes, then I have  found a blank a text box on which I can't enter text (Problem #3). I don't need to now, or I can create a new text box one, but to understand these confusing text boxes, how does this happen? There are two primary text boxes, on two facing pages, but one has no "#"on it, and when I follow the instructions from the User Guide to enter text (Shft-Cmd for Apple and click, then the Text Tool) the Text Tool jumps to the prevous (unselected) page which has a "#" and the primary text box there.  Is there any tutorials or blogs on how to avoid all these text box problems?  This comment from Ariel seems accurate that the Primary Text Box is a "nightmare" If I can find out how to use it properly, perhaps Steve Werner is correct that at least then I can change margins, etc. If I had known to look out for and delete spawned text boxes right away, I would not be in this predicament now.  

In sumary, Problem #1, Avoiding spawned text boxes  - I'll watch out for them on the next book to be deleted immediately,  and understand further one day, perhaps.

Problem #2, changing margins on 100 pages (I'll do that by hand, since this is so gummed up on this book)

Problem #3, A primary text box in the document that won't accept text: I'll ignore it, until someone explains that to me, or I find out later.

Thanks for the belated warning, Ariel, but where do I find the details?

Troy Deckert

[Ketrinz]

Have you tested this with columns please? I have found it does not work with columns Steve.

[Mark Manansala]

This "auto adjust" thing is by far THE MOST ANNOYING thing I've EVER encountered in any software... very un-intuitive... and slows down the work flow. Someone should get rid of this ridiculous "feature"

[UnlimitedRefills]

I'm having the same issue as you. It's very frustrating because I have previous templates setup from InDesign cc2018 and now my text frames do not adjust when different master pages are applied to pages. I'm about ready to pull my hair out.

What's the best way to go about setting up a primary text frame in an existing document which already has all it's content and the Master pages are created for margin adjustments and text variables and do not have text frames?

Everything just worked fine in cc2018 as text frames adjusted to master page changes. I'm about ready to revert back to cc2018.

[Steve Werner]

I can't answer that. When I teach about it, I recommend that such documents be created with Primary Text Frames from the beginning. I have little or no experience of trying to apply them after the fact. Maybe others do.

[UnlimitedRefills]

Thanks, so I guess moral of the story is to make sure you first create your document with primary text frames setup in your master pages. I've re-done my template with this feature. It's a shame that you cannot keep the same layout adjustment feature in cc2019 as cc2018 had though.

[Steve Werner]

I think the new feature is much more powerful and works better than the old Enable Layout Adjustment (although there are borderline cases like yours where it works for your particular workflow).

Keeping both features woud be totally confusing. (They already kept Liquid Layout, the "rule-based" way of adjusting layouts.)

[UnlimitedRefills]

Yeah I definitely understand. Thanks for clarifying everything. I just need to "adjust" my own practices and workflow.

[charles elliottb86469238]

Man, I am so with you, timd. And the old "Primary Text Frames" approach--which worked great in Quark--was annoying was can be in InDesign (how was it annoying? I don't even remember anymore--I just remember that it was hard to work with) that's why everyone in book publishing avoided using it. The fact that I can't have the margins snap when I apply a different master page in InDesign 14 is even less unhelpful than the endnotes feature, which has added hours to every book I work on.

[Shlomit Heymann]

Hi everybody,

I also don't understand why this feature gone. I hate putting a primary text frame on the master and after quark (many many years ago) it was so refreshing feature for me, the fact that I don't need Primary text frames on master.

I prefer the old Layout Adjustment that when applying the master on a page it will auto change the text box.

Shlomit

[Steve Werner]

The Primary Text Frame feature was an improvement over the old Master Text Frame, and arrived (as I recall) with CS5 or CS6. It works well for me whenever I've used it.

I'm afraid there's no way to return to the old Layout Adjustment method unless you run an older InDesign CC version. The new Adjust Layout method is, in my opinion, more flexible and powerful.

[Shlomit Heymann]

I have imported a 200 pages of text and I set them all with Paragraph styles I created for the. After doing so, I see which page will be a chapter page, etc. Let's say the page 21 will be a chapter page where the text box starts lower than the regular reading pages. if I'll put a primary text box and apply the chapter master to page 21, will text get reflowed into this primary text? No. It  will put an empty text frame under the existing one, right? I will than have to reflow the text into it so something is not working for me...

[ushioda]

I'm having a similar issue. I like primary text frames. I use them all the time and grumble about my coworkers who don't.

I just started playing in InDesign CC2019 for the first time and got to see first-hand how troublesome this "Adjust Layout" tool is.

I have a book that is changing margins a bit. I'm working in a file that was created in CC2018, but saved into ID2019 before I changed anything. I changed the margins on a Master page that had one plain, boring primary text frame on each page, with running head boxes above. InDesign pushed the running heads up into the slug area and shrank each of the primary text frames to a 3pt x 3pt frame piled one on top of the other at the center of the spread. I had to readjust them by hand. So helpful.

So, every time I adjust margins or primary text frames in CC2019, I'll need to double-check all measurements because the tool is unreliable and there is no alternative, which will cost me time.

"Adjust Layout" is yet another stunning step backwards for Adobe.

[Gopa C]

I have this same issue and drives me crazy!

[Laubender]

Hi together,

the issue should be fixed with the latest prerelease version of InDesign: 14.0.3.418.

I recommend visiting Adobe InDesign Prerelease and test that version.

Regards,
Uwe

[Ketrinz]

I quite like the Adjust Layout for page size changes and for margins, the text will reflow to margins. BUT if you want to change the number of columns with the text reflowing, I can't get it to work. Not even with Primary text frames. When you enter another number in the columns field the alert symbol comes up and the number of columns change and the text stays in the original format. Any suggestions would be gratefully received. Please do not tell me to use text frames - it will not work for my layout.

[Laubender]

Hi Mark,

can you be more specific?

( Some say that the fix we had with version 14.0.3 is not working with 15.0. anymore. )

Thanks,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[Mark Manansala]

Hi Laubender,

I appologise for the harsh words earlier, It's just I was trying to work on something using ID and it was frustrating spending more time clicking of stuff trying to figure out how to stop the software from interupting me with "auto" things. 

I will try to compile in detail my personal thoughts on the specific features that I personaly find disrupting rather than helpful and post them soonest.

Thank you for your reply. Oh. and BTW, just so I do not forget to mention... I do find all the Adobe Apps fantastic, specifically Ai, Ps, Pr, Ae, and most of all The Substance Suit, Designer, Alchemy and all the cool stuff that comes with it.

Cheers, 

Mark