Help! There MUST be a way to change all frames!?

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
June 15, 2022
3 replies
514 views

Hi, I created a new document, then used PLACE to import a Word doc. All came up nicely, creating 390 pages - but the text frames that appeared are the wrong size! And I have searched the internet for how to change all the frames to the same size, no luck. SURELY there must be a way, other than going through all the pages and changing individually? I have looked at the master pages but can't see how to change from there, either... And looked at the document presets but there's just one default in there. But is this where I set up the frames? I love InDesign but sometimes it makes no sense! lol!

How to

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Correct answer Willi Adelberger

A simple way to correct an existing document, where you have placed with unwanted design:

Create Master/Parent Pages with correct design, the border guides have to be where you want the text frames. They MUST be exactly where you want to have the text area be. Do not make floating text frames without attachment to all borders.
Maybe that it helps to work with primary text frames.
Work only with text frames with Object Styles. Avoid free styles.
Delete all pages but the first one.
Add 1 page based on the desired Master.
Link the text from the remaining page with the new page.
InDesign will update the whole document and add pages with the master/parent of the last pages.

Willi Adelberger

Correct answer

Community Expert

A simple way to correct an existing document, where you have placed with unwanted design:

Create Master/Parent Pages with correct design, the border guides have to be where you want the text frames. They MUST be exactly where you want to have the text area be. Do not make floating text frames without attachment to all borders.
Maybe that it helps to work with primary text frames.
Work only with text frames with Object Styles. Avoid free styles.
Delete all pages but the first one.
Add 1 page based on the desired Master.
Link the text from the remaining page with the new page.
InDesign will update the whole document and add pages with the master/parent of the last pages.

Fred.L

Inspiring

Hi,
It happens to me a lot and found that the use of a script was much easier to deal with than with master pages.

The trick is to create an Object style (for instance, "2 Cols frame") and apply it to the first textframe of the story.
Select the frame and run the script.
It will apply the same object style to any following textframe instantly.
I found it handy when you have to modify the size of the frames on the fly, due to ongoing working process.

Here it is:

mySelection = app.selection[0];
if (! mySelection instanceof TextFrame){
   alert("Please select a text frame and try again.");
exit();
}
myObjectStyle = mySelection.appliedObjectStyle;
myResult = confirm("Apply object style " + myObjectStyle.name + " to all threaded frames until the end of the story?");
if (!myResult){
   exit();
}
myCounter = 0;
while (mySelection = mySelection.nextTextFrame){
   myCounter++;
   mySelection.applyObjectStyle(myObjectStyle, true, true);
}
alert("Number of text containers affected: " + myCounter);

D

designer1955

Inspiring

Its on the masterpages. When you create a new document, you have to enter values doc size, for top bottom left and right margins. Be sure to have primary text box selected. Go to page 1 and import text. If you want to change margins, go to masterpages, select both masterpages in page menu and go to layout->margins and columns. Any value changed there will reflect in doc. To be sure delete pages 2 and on, Indesign willcreate new pages with the correct layout.

ScriptCraft.co.ukAuthor

Participant

Thanks so much, I was halfway there - but I don't understand why you can't change the frame width and height etc AFTERwards, ie if I have a doc formatted one way and I want to change the text frames to a different size and placing.... but thanks, I have started a new doc and imported styles etc from the previous one. 🙂

D

designer1955

Inspiring

That is possible. As i explained, by selecting masterpages and changing margins, frame size changes. But you have to select BOTH masterpages in the page menu. So changing afterwards is always possible. Through layout->margins and columns. To make sure its applied to all pages, delete page 2 and on. Tnat way the new margins are certainly applied.

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