How can I create paragraph styles with the headings each on different column (split to 3) with text?

[Hendy374084080dng]

How can I create paragraph styles with the headings - each on different column (split to 3) with text under each?

[Barb Binder]

Glad to hear that you are using InCopy on purpose, and for its intended usage. 

When they have the file, we cannot work on it. That's what I think was going on, and why we couldn't apply the new style.  Why don't you ask one of them to check one of the files back in again and then you can play with the layout and see my suggestion works for you. I think it will. Then they can check that one back out and you can let them continue to work on the content. 

~Barb

[Hendy374084080dng]

How do I check the files back in?

[Hendy374084080dng]

Is it silly that I'm using incopy for this cookbook?

Should I use excel rather use excel and do data merge if I want the layout to be this way? (with the amounts in bold and then tabbed...)

[Hendy374084080dng]

I unlinked the incopy file and finaly got the format.

Thank you for your help.

Now what would you suggeest to use so that the Chef can edit the text, While keeping this formatting.

[Hendy374084080dng]

Thank you.

I will tak the course, couldn't access the second one though. Any idea why?

What would you suggest in using for the format I attatched? Should I use Incopy or excel?

[Barb Binder · Accepted solution]

Hi Hendy:

As I said earlier, InCopy allows the designer to create an InDesign file and manage the formatting, while allowing others (editors and copywriters) to work independently on the content by checking out files, working on them and checking them back in. This sounds like exactly what you want to do.

However, like any modern application, there is a learning curve on using the InDesign/InCopy workflow and it appears that you haven't yet taken the time to figure it out. My suggestion is that you set aside three hours to watch this class—https://www.linkedin.com/learning/learning-incopy/work-with-graphics-in-incopy—which will fully explain the process. You will either want your chef to watch the InCopy portion or plan on sitting down with them to explain the process. Then you should be good to go!

~Barb

[Hendy374084080dng]

I'd rather not suscribe to another course, (I'm currently taking a few others) 

Anywhre I can learn for free about this?

[Barb Binder]

Hi Hendy:

You can sign up for a free 30-day trial at LinkedIn. That's going be the most efficient way to get up and running on this workflow. If that's not an option for you for some reason, and you don't want to pay for a single month, there are links on this page that you can work through.

—https://helpx.adobe.com/support/incopy.html

~Barb

[Hendy374084080dng]

Thanks, I'll work on getting a grip of incopy.

Just want to make sure that this would be my best option for the coobook I'm creating.

An indesign instructor mentioned to me something about using excel and data merging, would you reccoment that?

[Barb Binder]

Hi @Hendy374084080dng:

As I've said a few times, I think InCopy is a good plan for your workflow—you just need to learn how to use it. As a career InDesign instructor, I think a 3-hour, US$30 investment (that's the price of one month of LinkedIn learning) is a bargain.

If you don't want to use InCopy, another (paid subscription) option is WordsFlow from Em Software. This allows your chef to edit in Word and you can pick up the updates. http://emsoftware.com/products/wordsflow/

Could you use data merge instead? Sure, but now you need to move your content to Excel and learn data merge.

The bottom line is you need to pause, make a decision on how to move forward, learn the software and then you can breeze ahead. InDesign is a professional page layout program—it is many things, but it is not intuitive for new users., even those with a simpler workflow. That's why a lot of us here make a living teaching it.

~Barb

[Hendy374084080dng]

thank you for your time in responding to me all this time.

I'm not a new user to Indesign. I'm using it for close to 10 years already.

It's just the first time I'm having my clients and copywriter edit this.

As an Indesign expert, which would you reccomend for the layout I would like to create, using incopy or data merge?

[Barb Binder]

Hi @Hendy374084080dng:

I'd stick with InCopy, personally.

~Barb

[Hendy374084080dng]

Okay, not sure why my indesign instructor said he would do data merge.

I guess he's not so familiar.

[Hendy374084080dng]

I was told Adobe is not actively devoloping incopy, is it still worth investing in?