Skip to main content
any2cards
Known Participant
November 15, 2021
Question

How to copy an object while maintaining its X, Y, W, and H values?

  • November 15, 2021
  • 3 replies
  • 919 views

I have been using inDesign for several years, and something has been bothering me since the beginning. I am finally taking the time to ask about it here.  Perhaps I am simply doing something foolish.

 

Say I have a text field on page 1 which is located at X: 0, Y: 20, W: 100, H: 50.

 

I select this field, click on Edit-Copy, and go to page 2, and click on Edit-Paste.  It copies the text field just fine.  While its W and H values are copied correctly, it automatically changes the X and Y values to essentially place the object into the exact middle of the page.

 

This happens no matter what type of object I try to copy.  So I have to constantly change the X and Y values back to what they should be.

 

Is there no way to copy an object from one page to another while maintaining exactly the correct X, Y, W and H values?  I have to believe that this very simple process must be possible, but for the life of me, I have never found a way to do it.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thank you.

This topic has been closed for replies.

3 replies

Community Expert
November 15, 2021

"Is there no way to copy an object from one page to another while maintaining exactly the correct X, Y, W and H values?"

 

Yes, if the target page is on a different spread and at the same position as the source page.

Edit > Paste In Place

 

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

 

jmlevy
Community Expert
Community Expert
November 15, 2021

Edit > paste in place (Cmd, Alt, Shift V [Mac], Ctrl, Alt, Shift V [Windows])

Willi Adelberger
Community Expert
Community Expert
November 15, 2021

Any pasted object is placed on the center of you screen. You can do following:

  • Copy and Edit > Place in the same position (it is a different command, I am not sure about the correct wording in EnglisH9
  • Create an Object style which defines size and position and apply it to any new object you want to have on that place.
  • Export one or more selected Objects as an InDesign Snippet and File > Place it in any document. 
  • Create an InDesign Library INDL, add any object and later place it not via drag & drop, but via place command of that panel.
  • Create an InDesign CC Library, add there in a section that object. When you place it in a new document, hold the Alt/Option key, so it will be placed on the very same place.

Same place might mean something different on a left or rigt page, or on a non-facing and facing document, depending on spine and ruler settings.