Copy layer content between InDesign files

Hello there,

Please, i have to import a translate layer in InDesign 2018. I have more than 312 pages to translate. I can't find the script : layer-cloner-1.3.jsxbin, i already tried https://redokun.com/blog/indesign-copy-entire-layer-one-file-another  (but no return)

I would like to try some script, maybe someone can help me please ?

Have a good day

Loïc.

Hello As far as I'm concerned there's no direct way to copy layers, mainly because You could have a multiple pages in different documents thus copied layer could contain graphics and text assigned to page that doesn't exist in the new document.

In my work I use a workaround. I just copy pages between documents --> this copies the elements and layers from the previous document into the new document, and then I can distribute those elements to my choice

I hope this helps. Cheers.

We had the exact same problem and we've made a script which we also give to our clients: https://redokun.com/blog/indesign-copy-entire-layer-one-file-another

The underlying implementation is basically the same as the one suggested by winterm, but we've added a UI so it's not necessary to edit the script every time the layer name changes.

Edit: Not using that approach anymore. This script has been re-written and now supports threaded TextFrames (which were split with the previous implementation). The updated version is available at the same URL.

Hi, some 4 years later i might have the answer =)

This javascript seems to solve the problem. Save this as a .js file in your script folder:

var sourceLayer = app.documents[0].layers.itemByName("Layer1");

var destLayer = app.documents[1].layers[0];

sourceLayer.pageItems.everyItem().duplicate(destLayer);

Or download the script here:

http://http://henriklideberg.se/?attachment_id=225

Please note, that your source layer need to be named "Layer1".

Open your source indd-file and your destination indd-file, in your scripts panel, select duplicate_layer.js and run the script.

Done.

If your graphics are the same and the layout is the same and you just want there to be different versions of the text, then the conditional text feature is what I would use.

What version of InDesign? How many pages in the publication?

It could be scripted, but if there aren't too many pages, you could copy manually. A useful thing to know when copying layered content: From the Layers panel menu, select Paste Remembers Layers. When you do that, selecting all, copying and pasting will retain the layer structure from the original file instead of putting all objects on the current layer.