Export an entire document to text files?

[turner111]

Is there any way to export all the text content of an ID file to a series of text files?

I searched for a script, just in case, but didn't hear anything.

Thanks!

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

InDesign has no inherent method of exporting to text, although there is an export story to RTF function buried somewhere. There are scripts, I'm sure, and any number of third-party tools (mostly for Word<->ID exchange), but you might find it quickest to export to PDF, then use Acrobat DC to export the PDF to  DOC/DOCX/RTF.

You can also do a select-all (Ctrl-A), copy, and paste into a Word doc, but I'm not sure how clean that comes out. It would also only capture one story at a time, so material spread over multiple flows or text boxes would take multiple grabs.

[Peter Spier]

Well, none of that is hidden at all. If there is text selected you can export to text using the File > Export dialog and the ExportAllStories script is included in the sample scripts installed with the application, but be warned that ALL stories will be exported, including every page header and footer and page number, each as a separate story so you can get hundreds of them depending on the length of your document, so selecting the text you want and using File > Export might be more practical.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

I was being too quick and too clever — all that's 'hidden' is that the export option for RTF and text does not appear unless you have text selected, which is the kind of situational/conditional function that annoys me (it should be grayed out, at least indicating its availability). I've also found cut and copy all to be a better option in most ways.

[Peter Spier]

I would have to agree about the grayed-out presentation for text export.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

[...] but be warned that ALL stories will be exported, including every page header and footer and page number, each as a separate story so you can get hundreds of them [...]

By @Peter Spier

There is a tool that can handle this easily 😉 

[Peter Spier]

There's almost always a tool that can handle any job, but it usually isn't packaged with the application.

[Derek Cross]

Have a look at this: https://www.id-extras.com/one-click-export-indesign-to-word/

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Derek Cross

OP needs to export into separate text files - not everything together.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@turner111

Can you give more details of what exactly are you trying to achieve?

Do you need to import those texts back? 

Do you need to export to a database? 

[turner111]

Sorry for the delay - this really is just to back up contents in a non-ID file.

That said, I don't need every text box, just the "main stuff."

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Sorry for the delay - this really is just to back up contents in a non-ID file.

That said, I don't need every text box, just the "main stuff."

By @turner111

If you work on a PC - I can give you temporary access to the full version of my ID-Tasker tool. 

Then, you can export anything in any way you want. 

[turner111]

Really appreciate that! However... I'm on a Mac. Thanks though.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Keep in mind that IDML is something of a universal format, accessible by multiple apps and (if I understand correctly) written in simple ASCII XML. A quick save to IDML as part of the finish/archive process costs next to nothing in time, file space or effort and could be the accessible version 5 years from now.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@James Gifford—NitroPress

You forgot to add, that in order to get to the contents - IDML file needs to be renamed by adding ".zip" at the end. 

Or replacing "idml" with "zip". 

But it will be a plain text - without formatting. 

@turner111

DOCX files are the same - ZIPed archives. 

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Worth noting. Most modern data files seem to be sorta-XML-based and usually-ZIPped-for-your-convenience — All of the MS ***X files, EPUB, IDML, etc. There are archive managers that have them listed as valid archive types for further convenience (no renaming etc. needed) and I suspect there's a good universal app out there somewhere. (I use 7-Zip directly on EPUBs, for example.)