anchored objects in table

Report · Mar 28, 2024

I work with a table-heavy handout that I need lines going across multiple cells. I have to add and subtract rows month after month, so I'm constantly shifting the cells. If my line is shorter, I can anchor it in the cell and it will span the length. However, if I have a longer line, it becomes overset in that cell and I can't figure out why.

Here are some of things I've tried:

Changing the inset spacing of the cell
Changing the height of the cell.
Changing the alignment of the cell
Changing the paragraph indent
Changing the to a graphic cell and pasting a vector object or image (with & without "contents clipped to cell" checked)

Changing the width of the cell will make it appear but that is not a solution for me since I need every column the same width. I also cannot merge the cells as i need a stroke on the border to differentiate them.

Screenshot attached. I'm only showing three rows here but i have rows on rows on rows. Probably 200 rows over three different tables.

I desperately want all the lines anchored. Please help!

Report · Mar 28, 2024

Something like this?

It's not done using Tables and Cells - as it would be too complicated - but generated from TextFile - prepared in Excel or something.

I can't zoom in too much - not my file - but it's a "timeline" for tasks - which, I assume, is what you are looking for to achieve.

Of course graphical representation is up to you.

Report · Mar 28, 2024

Thanks, but i think it would be way too complicated to do it without Tables and Cells as I have 100s of rows, only some of which change monthly. I want the lines anchored so when i delete a row, the line sticks with it's row and I don't have to manually shift 50 different lines one at a time. And if i have to make an additional edit, i can be manually shifting these lines multiple times and it opens up room for error and impedes the speed with which i could otherwise accomplish this task.

Report · Mar 28, 2024

Thanks, but i think it would be way too complicated to do it without Tables and Cells as I have 100s of rows, only some of which change monthly. I want the lines anchored so when i delete a row, the line sticks with it's row and I don't have to manually shift 50 different lines one at a time. And if i have to make an additional edit, i can be manually shifting these lines multiple times and it opens up room for error and impedes the speed with which i could otherwise accomplish this task.

By @32132159n6c3

I'm not talking about anything done manually - everything would be "virtually" linked so if you add/remove row - everything will shift as needed - can you show whole page?

Report · Mar 28, 2024

I guess I'm not understanding - what would I be generating from a text file?

The whole page is attached (minus header/footer). This table spans two pages, but i have additonal tables that follow this same format. It's not as obvious here, but in the PDF, the border strokes are visable so each "week" is delineated.

my excel skills are nil so I'd prefer to keep it in InDesign.

Report · Mar 28, 2024

Blue - names of the tasks

Green - time of the task - from-to

Red - milestones and their titles

Pink - types of the bar / legend

Yellow - which milestone should be linked with which task - vertical lines