How do I anchor a text box on an anchored image?

[-Tami]

My document has anchored images that need text boxes placed on them. The text boxes must stay in place on the image. I can use the Type Tool or Rectangle Frame Tool to make a box on the image, type text into it, then move it where it needs to be on the image. But when the image moves with the text it's anchored to, the text boxes in the images don't move. I've tried selecting the image an text box to group them, but can't seem to select them together using Shift+click.

In FrameMaker I could just draw a text box on an image, and the box stayed put on the image, moving when the image moved. It was also very easy to move on the image when necessary. How do I get the same result in InDesign?

[Barb Binder]

First group the graphic frame and the overlapping text frame. Then, anchor the group.

[-Tami]

Thanks, but I haven't been able to select the graphic frame and the text frame at the same time. I click on the graphic frame, hold down Shift, then click on the text frame, then the text frame is selected, but not the graphic frame. And visa-versa.

[-Tami]

...And when I use the Selection Tool to draw a box around the image and the text frame, only the text frame gets selected.

[-Tami]

I think I found a way, by using Object > Anchored Object > Insert to insert an anchored frame just above the image. Then I can enter text in the frame, then move the frame into the image. But once the frame is moved, I can't seem to select it to move it again, which I need to do sometimes when images change.

Am I on the right track?

[Barb Binder]

Hi Tami:

You will need to unanchor the anchored graphic frame first. Then group the graphic frame and the overlapping text frame. Finally, anchor the group.

[-Tami]

Hi Barb,

Thanks! I was able to group the unanchored graphic with its text boxes, then re-anchor the group.

Unanchoring the graphic was a bit tricky. The Release option wasn't showing on the Anchored Object menu. I first had to right-click the graphic, select Anchored Object > Options, then set the position to Custom. Then the Release option showed.

The process seems rather cumbersome compared to FrameMaker. I'm not looking forward to converting my three documents in 12 languages each to InDesign, though doing the layouts for press and web for numerous future releases should be easier in ID.

[Barb Binder]

I understand your pain—I'm also a FrameMaker user and trainer.

Here's an InDesign tip: you can also just cut an anchored frame and paste it back it as an easier way to release the anchor.

~Barb

[-Tami]

That's good to know --thanks again Barb!

[Barb Binder]

Happy to help, and happy weekend, Tami.

~Barb