Skip to main content
Inspiring
May 28, 2023
Answered

How do I copy and paste into the same position in InDesign?

  • May 28, 2023
  • 4 replies
  • 37828 views

How to copy something from a right-hand page and paste it to the exact same place on a left-hand page?

Correct answer James Gifford—NitroPress

Paste in Place, Ctrl-Alt-Shift-V, will paste in the same location relative to page edges, but I don't know if there's any command that will adjust for offset margins, if that's what you're seeking. I'm sure it could be scripted.

4 replies

Community Expert
May 29, 2023

Set the object style - you can set the position and the x y coordinates in the Style Options

 

Oops I see @jmlevy already suggested this.

 

There's also this method - follow the link to the new way too.

https://creativepro.com/how-to-flip-or-mirror-an-object-in-indesign/#:~:text=Just%20click%20the%20Flip%20Horizontal,choose%20Object%20%3E%20Transform%20%3E%20Flip.

 

 

 

Inspiring
May 29, 2023

Thank you for your response. However, I was wondering if there might be a simpler and more efficient approach to accomplish this task?

Community Expert
May 30, 2023

InDesign works differently - it creates spreads of a book - Illustrator works with Artboards.

 

Anchored objects are a fantastic way of controlling position of objects as they change page.

 

They are essentially part of the text - as it's anchored with the paragraphs - so you delete the paragraph you could unintentionally delete the image just a caveat.

 

I talked a bit here how to do it

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/making-an-inline-image-extend-beyond-the-left-margin/m-p/12707089

 

I had more comprehensive posts in the past but I cannot find them. 

 

 

Jumpenjax
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 28, 2023

Are you on a Mac or Pc?

if Mac click option click and hold on copy drag to other page. It should give you coordinates to show it in exact position on second page as you move it.

Lee- Graphic Designer, Print Specialist, Photographer
Inspiring
May 29, 2023

PC. 🙂

jmlevy
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 28, 2023

You could create an object style which uses position parameters, like this:

Inspiring
May 29, 2023

Thank you for your response. However, I was wondering if there might be a simpler and more efficient approach to accomplish this?

rob day
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 30, 2023

No, I was looking for something like ctrl + f (in Illustrator), but it seems that InDesign's paste-in-place is not based on the page. So.... Anyway, thanks for your help.:)


No, I was looking for something like ctrl + f (in Illustrator), but it seems that InDesign's paste-in-place is not based on the page. So.... Anyway, thanks for your help.:)

 

Hi @Tianchi29475624wvyh , this has come up before, but I can’t find the thread—if an Object Style doesn’t work for you, there is a scripting option. Try assigning this script a key command—select the page item you want to paste in place, then double-click the destination page you want to paste on in the Pages panel:

 

 

//Paste In Place to destination page
//Select a page item, run script, and double-click a page in the Pages panel

#targetengine "pasteinplace";

PasteInPlace()
var el, b, s;
var or = app.activeDocument.viewPreferences.rulerOrigin = RulerOrigin.PAGE_ORIGIN; 
function PasteInPlace(){
    if (app.selection.length > 0) {
        var doc = app.activeDocument;
        s = doc.selection[0];
        var el = app.addEventListener("afterAttributeChanged", getBounds);
        el.name = "PIP"
    } else {
        alert("Please Make a Selection")
        return
    } 
} 


function getBounds(e) {
    if (e.attributeValue.constructor.name === 'Page') {    
        app.menuActions.itemByID(118788).invoke();
        s.duplicate(app.activeDocument.layoutWindows[0].activePage);
        app.eventListeners.itemByName("PIP").remove();
        app.activeDocument.viewPreferences.rulerOrigin = or;
    }
} 

 

Before run:

 

 

After run:

 

James Gifford—NitroPress
Legend
May 28, 2023

Paste in Place, Ctrl-Alt-Shift-V, will paste in the same location relative to page edges, but I don't know if there's any command that will adjust for offset margins, if that's what you're seeking. I'm sure it could be scripted.

Peter Spier
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 29, 2023

Paste in place puts things at the same ruler coordinates , not necessaritly at the same position relative to the page edge. It depends on how your rulers are set up.

Inspiring
May 29, 2023

How do you put things at the same ruler coordinates?