Create Two Page Spread on Single Page

[TYPE A]

Does anyone know if what I'd like to do is possible?

I have cards where I'd like to show both sides on one page. I want each side of the cards to have linked text frames. 

The best I've been able to figure out is to set up a Master page where one set of text frames are linked and then manually link the second set.

I know I can create two separate Master pages, turn off Facing Pages, and allow the pages to be side-by-side. 

I'd also like to know if, on the cards on the right side, the page number can be part of the flowable text and always remain at the bottom right of the text frame?

Any advice on either issue is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Peter

[Mike Witherell]

Maybe Facing Pages off, and on the Master Page build one text frame that is sub-divided into 2 columns. Therefore the content would flow from one "page" to the other. Multiple pages could also flow/link/thread. If you employ paragraph styles for the headings, they could automatically break to the top of a new column/page. (Keep Options).

[TYPE A]

Thanks for the reply Mike, the problem with your suggestion is the imported text files are two separate files. I do use Paragraph, Character, Nested styles, and the Keep Options feature to accomplish the formatting.

I've been doing this project for years in two separate files and it gets confusing when the content has to jump to another card, then ensuring the card numbers are correct. 

Also, the card number of the front side is part of the header line and on the back, I've created it separately, because they fall at the bottom of the page and right-aligned.

I don't have a problem and know I would have to manually link the boxes. Some of the sets of cards are over 1,500 and I'm looking for a way to do this as simple as possible.

Thanks,

Peter

[Randy Hagan]

I'm going on a couple of assumptions here:

1. You're setting up flash cards for either direct output/folding over or a work'n'tumble for commercial printing to get a net effect of the same "spread" printing as a card front to back. Question on one side; answer to the other with the same "page number" on both sides to correspond with the appropriate Q&A, based on the identical page numbering on your example.
2. Your text in "two separate files" consist of one file with questions, and the other with answers, which may have been easier for the author(s) to generate the copy but is absolute misery for you to lay out. You can discern on the fly where the beginning and end of a question or answer is determined in the file, and apply the appropriate styles for your Keep Options to be executed correctly and consistently.

Based on these assumptions, I'd set up the job thusly:

1. If you don't already have one, get a huge screen to see multiple cards clearly with a readable view incorporating two or three landscape "pages" in vertical pasteboards. You can edit the space above/beneath the "pages" in your InDesign Preferences>Guides & Pasteboard options if that helps. This will save your eyes, an likely your sanity as you do this job I hope you can bill for by the hour. Convince your boss/client that this job will go much faster/easier/more accurately with a big screen to QC your work on the fly.
2. One master page, no facing pages option. Two columns, no primary text frames. Page numbers as separate special characters at the top-left and the bottom-right of the master page.
3. Place the text file with the questions in the left column. Place the answers in the right. Format the first card, left and right, as appropriate to your design aesthetic and Keep Options.
4. You can either do one side all the way down, then the other (which may make it easier for you to discern where breaks on one side need to occur, based on the layout from the other). Or, you can do both sides per page, then both sides for the next, in sequence all the way down. I'd choose this option based what makes the job easier for you. But in either case you will be knocking out the text flow for up to 1500 cards per deck by hand.

You're not going to be able to autofill one column out of two, or autofill every other page and then auto-edit the page numbers to only change after two entries. Not with InDesign by itself, anyway. Perhaps one of the scripting gurus here will be able to cobble something special up for you, but I know of no current existing script that'll accomplish what you want either.

You're going to have to accomplish this by hand. And hopefully don't have to account for your time inside a small, flat project price.

Good luck,

Randy

[TYPE A]

Thanks, Randy for your reply. You're correct, they are flashcards, printed as work-and-turn. I do work on a 27" monitor and have set up the file as two separate Master pages. This messed up the use of the auto page numbering, as it counts each new page as a card/page number. If I go this route I have to create another set of linked text frames, where I have to run a list of numbers into it for the page numbers. 

The problem with this is I have to delete the card numbers from the Word file and then hope I've gotten the breaks correct. Normally not an issue but when the text size forces the content onto 2 cards I don't always catch this. 

Having a way to keep the card number on the backs in place, allows me to easily see where the next card starts and stops.

Most likely I'm out of luck in doing what I'd like to do, not without some manual work. I'm trying to come up with a solution since the publisher wants me to now be responsible for jumping a card onto 2 cards when the content doesn't fit. Manually having to renumber the fronts each time that happens is not cost-efficient for me. Versus a copy editor or proofreader doing it.

I appreciate the advice!

[Randy Hagan · Accepted solution]

Well the good news, I guess, is that the MSWord-based "page numbering" will give you a cue where one card will break for the next in each text thread. That's something.

Using InDesign special characters to number the "card", which you can place in two different positions on a single page with the master pages, can provide your job numbering and the MSWord numbers can be your cue of what copy you need to fit into each document page, then cut away.

I wouldn't give up hope, though. There are a few scripting wizards who fly through these posts every once in a while and my have the custom answer for you. But if you need to knock out this job like now, you're probably providing that work by your own hand.

Sorry I don't have better news for you,

Randy