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Serene_observer5E99
Inspiring
September 10, 2024
Question

How to Change the Font Size of a Single Word Throughout a 200+ Page Document in InDesign

  • September 10, 2024
  • 4 replies
  • 1086 views

I know there must be a simple way to do this, but I don't have time to do research to find out... I have a 200+ page document and need to change the point size of a single word throughout. I don't want to spend time changing each instance of the word individually--and I know there's a solution so that is unnecessary--but I'm not aware of how to do it.  

 

I know it's a dumb question, but I seriously can't stop work to try and find the answer...

 

 

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4 replies

Community Expert
September 14, 2024

Hi @Serene_observer5E99 ,

in case your single word comes with different point sizes and you want to scale it to a certain percentage create a character style that uses scaling width and height percentages for character width and height.

 

Then perhaps do Find/Change using the character style for formatting.

However, note, if you do that on characters that already use a character style you will exchange character styles losing the previous properties of the character style that was applied initally.

 

To solve that issue use a GREP Style in the applied paragraph style(s) so that properties of two character styles could be stacked. E.g. a 150% for character width and height will be added to a character where fill color "red" was added from a different character style—instead of stripping the color "red" off the characters.

 

See the screen shots below from my German InDesign where the "s" of the word "size" is selected. The Character Styles panel is showing that character style named "red" is directly applied plus a character style "newSize" is added with the applied paragraph style's GREP style:

 

How paragraph style "Body Text with GREP Style" is defined. Use character style "newSize" when text is "size":

 

How character stye "newSize" is defined:

 

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

m1b
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 14, 2024

I like your approach @Laubender.

m1b
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 11, 2024

Here's an extra twist—adding a grep style to your paragraph style(s)!

 

Let's say your word is "cat". First create a Character Style with the font size, etc you want to apply to "cat", then add this Grep Style to your Paragraph Style (except use your character style where it asks "Apply Style:".

Adding the \b will match a word boundary, so it won't match "CATalog" or "CATches".

 

For the same reason, if you are doing a on-off find/change, make sure "Whole Word" is ON.

Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
September 12, 2024

What's the point of overloading InDesign with GREP Styles when applying CharStyle once is more efficient? 

 

brian_p_dts
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 12, 2024

It would be the correct way to do it if starting from scratch. That way you don't miss one on edits. But we have no idea about style setup (or lack thereof) in OPs doc.

Abhishek Rao
Community Manager
Community Manager
September 10, 2024

Hi @Serene_observer5E99,

 

Not a dumb question at all! Changing the font size of a single word throughout a large document can definitely be done more efficiently. 

1. "Use Find/Change": 
   - Go to 'Edit > Find/Change' (or press 'Ctrl+F' on Windows / 'Cmd+F' on Mac).
   - In the dialog box, enter the word you want to change in the "Find what" field.
   - Click on the "Change Format" button (the 'A' icon) next to "Find what," and select the current font settings.
   - Click on the "Change Format” button (the 'A' icon) next to "Change to," and set the new font size.
   - Click on "Change All" to apply the changes throughout the document.

 

This method should save you a lot of time and ensure consistency across your document.

 

If you need more details or run into any issues, feel free to ask!

 

Best,  
Abhishek Rao

brian_p_dts
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 10, 2024

Find/Replace, in the replace, replace it with a Character Style with the point size implemented.