How master pages work within book feature?

[gmr926]

Does anyone know how master pages work within the Book Feature? 

<Title renamed by moderator>

[Steve Werner]

Master (now called Parent) pages exist in each document within a book.

When you use the Synchronize features in a book, "Parent pages" are normally turned off:

However, you can check that option to synchronize master pages based on the document you have chosen to match. 

[Creamer Training]

You beat me, Steve! It took me more than 10 seconds to type my response...

[Creamer Training]

You update the master pages in one document and synchronize them across the other documents through the book. Is that what you are looking for?

[gmr926]

Hi David,

Thanks for your response. Your answer is clear. Maybe if I explain what I'm trying to achieve my question won't be as vague..

So I'm looking to use the panel as a organization system for 3 documents that are almost identical (same styles, master pages) the only thing different is the TOC and illustrations. 

Since they share almost all the same attributes, if I make changes to any styles/master pages ideally it should reflect in all 3 documents. I figured the book panel might be a way to do this...

Keep in mind I don't intend to use the book panel to combine all three documents into a single pdf. I will create a PDF from each individual document.

With the book feature I understand you gotta choose a source that all changes are made in. Since all 3 of my documents share the same styles/masters how would this work? How do I know which one to choose as the source?

[Steve Werner]

In that case, I'd say it doesn't matter which one you choose.

It would seem to be arbitrary.

[gmr926]

So then all the master pages would look the same in every document?

[Steve Werner]

If they had the same parent (master) pages, they would stay that way. 

[Creamer Training]

To add to Steve's post...

InDesign (and most programs) just look at the name of the setting when syncing. So, in this case, parent pages with the same name would sync. Same for paragraph and type styles. 

Here is how the sync works:

• Settings with the same name in the receiving documents get updated to the "sync master".
• New settings in the sync master get added to the receiving documents.
• Settings in the receiving documents but NOT in the master are left alone.

Also, when syncing, you should use "pessimistic" settings--that is, only update the items you need to, not everything at once. For example, if I only updated parent pages, only sync the parent pages (unless I created a new paragraph style or variable for the parent page--then I would sync those too).

[Creamer Training · Accepted solution]

Depending on how similar the different books are, you could look into using conditional text (which can work with graphics and tables too).

Off the top of my head, you could use a few methods. 

1. Create a "master" book that contains all chapters (that need syncing). Be sure to turn off the numbering and pagination settings in the book. Use this book to sync everything you need.
2. Update and sync one book. Open a chapter from one of the other books and manually sync the styles, parent pages, etc. Open up the other book file and sync the modified chapter to the other chapters. Repeat for the third book.
3. Another option is to create a "master" style sheet document. Sync any changes into it; use the style sheet to update the other documents. I add this file to the end of the book and remove it when updating the TOC and exporting to PDF.

[gmr926]

Thank you so much!

[Steve Werner · Accepted solution]

A few other rules regarding synchonizing:

* A parent page that is defined in the "master document" [the highlighted one that is controlling the synchonizing] but not in another document gets added to that other document.

* If a setting is named both in the "master document" and another document, the definition of that setting in the "master document" overrides the one in the "non-master document"

* If a setting is not defined in the "master document" but exists in the some other document it's left alone.