convert complex indesign doc to rtf

[Rachel.b.Jackson]

I have a 300 page document that is fairly complex, meaning that it has many text boxes. My client asked for a docx file of the text. If I export to a PDF and try to do it in Acrobat, Acrobat crashes. I know I can copy out of the story editor, but that would require dozens of manual copies because there are so many text boxes. Is there a better way to do this?

Thanks!

[BobLevine]

No, there's not and what you're trying to do is akin to putting eggs back in the shell after you make an omelet.

So, the question is, why do you want/need to do this? Perhaps there are better ways for you to handle this for future projects.

[Mike Witherell]

Hi Rachel,

Exporting a PDF and opening in Acrobat Pro and exporting to a Word.docx should work well. 

Did you try simple things to get around the crashing? Only Acrobat Pro running while you do this? Do you have enough system RAM (preferring at least 16gb RAM)? If Windows, have you emptied out the two different Temp folders and restarted and then tried to export the text from the PDF from Acrobat Pro?

Here is another idea: use a built-in script. Scripts panel > Application > Samples > JavaScript > Export All Stories.jsx. The bad news is you get individual text files based on individual textframe story threads.

A fee-based solution is this:

https://www.id-extras.com/one-click-export-indesign-to-word/

[BobLevine]

Just re-read that. If you just need the text, there is an export all stories script that ships with InDesign. Try that but it will give you an RTF file for every story.

[Peter Spier]

You can export each story to RTF from the File > Export ... dialog if you have an active cursor in the story.

There is also an ExportAllStories sample script to do it all at once, but you will get a file for EVERY individual text thread, including things like headers an page markers.

[rob day]

My client asked for a docx file of the text

Hi @Rachel.b.Jackson , You can try this variation of the ExportAllStories script that ships with InDesign—it exports all the document’s stories to a single text file.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/bdu9npc9nb124uyaizz0m/AJwsauI2u6LHfgjJyHgxSpo?rlkey=zqvhj5biflya6naad...

[rob day]

I realized after posting the script exports text only even when you chosse RTF and Tagged Text. Do you something more than plain text?

[Peter Spier]

@rob day I can't speak for the OP, but it seems to me that if the client wants .docx they are expecting formatted text, so a plain text option would not be a lot of help.