Applying Same Text formatting to multiple lines of text

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
December 5, 2018
5 replies
3219 views

I am working on a phone directory (see photo) where I need to apply 4 separate character styles to 500 doctor listings. Is there a quick way to do this or do I have to just go through and apply each character style individually?

I have tried to look up nested styles but couldn't figure it out yet.

At the moment all I have set up is separate character styles for Doctors Name, Practice, Address and Phone number.

Any point in the right direction would be a big help, I don't really work in InDesign as much.

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Correct answer BobLevine

If everything is in InDesign already AND if the text frames are linked:

Select all with cursor in a text frame (cmd/ctrl+A) and then right click on the first paragraph style. Choose that and next style.

If you’ve set everything up properly, the entire document will be formatted. If each entry is in its own frame, I would suggest having the first style always begin in a new frame.

cutty382Author

Participant

Thanks guys, a lot of good information and I am on the right track now I believe. A bit of tinkering here and there and I think my life just got made a lot easier!!!

cutty382Author

Participant

I have all of the information already out of Excel and in linked text boxes. Next Styles is working but I think I need to clean up all of my text. I watched a video on Data Merge and will have to research it a bit more as the video I watched imported the Data all to new pages and I need the data to fill 5 lines of text then move on to the next doctor and so on...

BobLevine

Correct answer

Community Expert

If everything is in InDesign already AND if the text frames are linked:

Select all with cursor in a text frame (cmd/ctrl+A) and then right click on the first paragraph style. Choose that and next style.

If you’ve set everything up properly, the entire document will be formatted. If each entry is in its own frame, I would suggest having the first style always begin in a new frame.

hammer0909

Community Expert

Next style could work but usually information such as what you are showing is contained in an excel file somewhere. You might have better luck with Data Merge.

BobLevine

Community Expert

Good point, Chad.

Geоrge

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Remember, never say you can't do something in InDesign, it's always just a question of finding the right workaround to get the job done. © David Blatner