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SPHH
Known Participant
August 23, 2017
Answered

How do I add more rows and columns after placing a bunch of images?

  • August 23, 2017
  • 3 replies
  • 1643 views

Hi,

During the Placing-Process of a bunch of images, it is possible to add more rows and columns by clicking the arrow-keys (left/right or top/bottom) BEFORE releasing the ”mouse button” or trackpad.

NOW, is there any kind of way how to do that AFTER releasing the button or trackpad ?

Sometimes it’s just more convenient to make it afterwards, especially when you’re using a trackpad.

Any idea someone ?

Cheers

G

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Jeff Witchel, ACI

Yes, you can add or delete Rows by pressing your Up or Down Arrows, and you can add or delete Columns by pressing your Right or Left Arrows anytime during the Place Process until you let go of your mouse button. On as trackpad, I'm sure this is a lot harder to do.

An easier way would be to:

  1. Figure out ahead of time how big you want the outside dimension of your grid to be.
  2. Draw a Rectangle to those dimensions.
  3. Open your Scripts panel (Window menu > Utilities > Scripts).
  4. And in the Samples folder (which comes with InDesign) open the JavaScript folder and double-click on MakeGrid.jsx.
  5. In the Window that opens, put in your specs for how many Columns, Row, etc. and press OK

You'll get an instant Grid.

Select all of the rectangle in the grid and go to the Object menu > Fitting > Frame Fitting Options. Choose Fill Frame Proportionally (as a good starting point). And Press OK.

You have exactly the grid you want with images fitting those Frames nicely.

While Placing in a grid is a cool feature, I've never found it to be particularly useful for real work.

3 replies

Jeff Witchel, ACI
Community Expert
Community Expert
August 26, 2017

You're quite welcome! Happy to help.

SPHH
SPHHAuthor
Known Participant
August 30, 2017

So, in other words, ADOBE hasn’t yet built any functionality where it’s possible to perform changes to the grid AFTER releasing the mouse. That would be a real enhencement.., Adobe !

Jeff Witchel, ACI
Community Expert
Jeff Witchel, ACICommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
August 23, 2017

Yes, you can add or delete Rows by pressing your Up or Down Arrows, and you can add or delete Columns by pressing your Right or Left Arrows anytime during the Place Process until you let go of your mouse button. On as trackpad, I'm sure this is a lot harder to do.

An easier way would be to:

  1. Figure out ahead of time how big you want the outside dimension of your grid to be.
  2. Draw a Rectangle to those dimensions.
  3. Open your Scripts panel (Window menu > Utilities > Scripts).
  4. And in the Samples folder (which comes with InDesign) open the JavaScript folder and double-click on MakeGrid.jsx.
  5. In the Window that opens, put in your specs for how many Columns, Row, etc. and press OK

You'll get an instant Grid.

Select all of the rectangle in the grid and go to the Object menu > Fitting > Frame Fitting Options. Choose Fill Frame Proportionally (as a good starting point). And Press OK.

You have exactly the grid you want with images fitting those Frames nicely.

While Placing in a grid is a cool feature, I've never found it to be particularly useful for real work.

SPHH
SPHHAuthor
Known Participant
August 26, 2017

Thank you Jeff! It’s really a path worth having a try. I’ll check it out Merci

amaarora
Community Manager
Community Manager
August 23, 2017

Hi,

Not sure if this will help... but you can try

1. Step and repeat.. Group, lock, and duplicate objects in InDesign

2. Pressing Alt or Option key and drag the image... then use arrow keys to create multiple copies of the image as a grid

3. You can also first create empty graphic frames and then place the bunch of images in those one at a time

-Aman

SPHH
SPHHAuthor
Known Participant
August 26, 2017

Thank you amaarora! It seems Adobe hasn’t built this option to perform a change AFTER having created the grid. Till yet at least.