Skip to main content
jan99x
jan99x
Inspiring
August 28, 2020
Answered

How make one overview-page of 12 pages (with script)

  • August 28, 2020
  • 6 replies
  • 833 views

Hi,

I have a calendar containing 12 pages (months).

Each calendar page -month- has multiple images + multiple text.

At the end of the calendar (when months are made), I want an overview page with thumbnails of everey month-page (like image-sample below).

One button-press-script should do this for me at the end of the calendar (so: page 13).

Plain javascript.

 

I read something about "duplicating content tool" (if that's the right tool to work with?) but that's not clear for me.

Please a suggestion.

Regards Jan

 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Laubender

Hi Jan,

if you want to have the 12 pages for the months and the overview page in one single document you cannot place InDesign pages. Why? You cannot place pages of an InDesign document in the very same document.

 

Instead I would suggest, that you export the 12 pages to PDF/X-4 with no downsampling of images and place the 12 pages of the exported PDF on your overview page. Repeat that if you are doing changes on the 12 pages for the individual months.

 

FWIW: Writing a script doing this is possible, but it might be easier and more cost-effective to do it the "manual" way.

 

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

6 replies

rob day
Community Expert
rob dayCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 13, 2020

I have an AppleScript that I recently translated into JavaScript that you can try.

There are two versions here:

 

https://shared-assets.adobe.com/link/588c3640-0b0d-47fc-68f2-f56e5d4dd188

 

ThumbMatrixtoScale.jsx lets you set columns, rows, and the thumbnail scale—the page size is determined by the scale.

 

ThumbMatrixtoPageDimensions.jsx lets you chose a page dimension, and the thumbnails are scaled to fit the chosen page dimensions.

 

The frontmost document has to be saved before you run the script. I‘ve only done limited testing:

 

 

jan99x
jan99xAuthor
Inspiring
October 13, 2020

@rob day 

Thanks, I will study the script on a moment later.

Regards,

Jan

W
Community Expert
Warren Heaton10841144Community Expert
Community Expert
August 28, 2020

There's a calendar wizard on the Adobe Exchange by Scott Selberg:

 

InDesign Calendar Wizard

https://exchange.adobe.com/creativecloud.details.12400.indesign-calendar-wizard.html

 

 

 

    jan99x
    jan99xAuthor
    Inspiring
    August 29, 2020

    @Warren_Heaton

    Thanks for reply.

    I know that Wizard and studied that ealier >> it does not work for me.

    Luke Jennings3
    Community Expert
    Luke Jennings3Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 28, 2020

    The Content Collector Tool should work well for this task. Collect each month and place as a link on the overview page, you can resize the placed links. Any changes made to the original pages will update the placed links, although you will need to re-size the placed links again upon link update.

    jan99x
    jan99xAuthor
    Inspiring
    August 28, 2020

    @Luke Jennings3,

    Thanks for reply.

    That tool I mentioned in my first question. With use of a "link" that would be great.

    However... there are several things that does not work well.

    1) the text disappears (maybe to big for "container-rectangle".

    2) rounded corners of "container-rectangle" are not "resized" (made smaller for thumbnail).

    My conclusion: this is not right way for me (although ... auto updae with links would be a great thing).

    I take a look at the proposal of Uwe Laubender.

    Thanks,

    regards,

    Jan

     

    Luke Jennings3
    Community Expert
    Luke Jennings3Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 28, 2020

    It's working for me here. The text should not be disappearing, although it's possible the font size is too small to see at full size?

    The scaled rounded corners also works, check your InDesign Preferences> General> Object Editing> When Scaling> Include Effects.

    L
    Community Expert
    LaubenderCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    August 28, 2020

    Hi Jan,

    if you want to have the 12 pages for the months and the overview page in one single document you cannot place InDesign pages. Why? You cannot place pages of an InDesign document in the very same document.

     

    Instead I would suggest, that you export the 12 pages to PDF/X-4 with no downsampling of images and place the 12 pages of the exported PDF on your overview page. Repeat that if you are doing changes on the 12 pages for the individual months.

     

    FWIW: Writing a script doing this is possible, but it might be easier and more cost-effective to do it the "manual" way.

     

    Regards,
    Uwe Laubender

    ( ACP )

      hammer0909
      Community Expert
      hammer0909Community Expert
      Community Expert
      August 28, 2020

      What I would do is create a new InDesign document for that page. Now choose File > Place and select the InDesign document of the calendar. Place each page of the calendar as a thumbnail in this document. Now place that single page document as a graphic on the last page of your calendar project. Done!

      jan99x
      jan99xAuthor
      Inspiring
      August 28, 2020

      Sample of overwiew page

      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices