How to make a single page in indesign that is auto-adjustable based on the content

[Mahendra5E19]

Hello everyone, sorry if this has already been answered before.
I am trying to make a single page in indesign that is auto-adjustable based on the content.  The content has a header, a footer, and a content area.  Depending on the content, I want the page to auto adjust its size.  Sometimes the content can be 10 lines, sometimes 50 lines and sometimes 500 lines.  In all cases, the page should remain single and auto adjust itself.  TIA.

[Eric Dumas]

Hi, 

Have a look at this: Liquid and alternate layouts in InDesign (adobe.com)

[Frans v.d. Geest]

An auto adjustable page is not possible in InDesign.

[Mahendra5E19]

Is it possible in PDF or any other Adobe products?  Thanks.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

No problem through scripting - are you on PC or Mac? 

[Mahendra5E19]

I am on PC.  Has someone already solved this??

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Yeah, piece of cake, I've done this before in my BuildCatalog tool. 

Would have to extract this part - but need more info from you - only height should be dynamic - or width as well? If yes - how, on what conditions? 

Or it would just have to be the same as all objects on the current spread / as selection?

[Frans v.d. Geest]

If it should be AUTO adjusting, such a script has to run constantly, I believe that is not what was asked: I took it as auto adjusting like auto sizing text frame - but now for a page... maybe I misunderstood.

[Mahendra5E19]

Only the length at this point.  Thanks.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Only the length at this point.  Thanks.

By @Mahendra5E19

Are you working on this document - or do you need it for DataMerge? 

[Mahendra5E19]

We are working on this doc and have [almost!] finished header and footer.  I attach the exported PDF so you can see where the content will go in.  Its OK to manually copy the content in since we will send out the newsletter only periodically.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Thanks, can you send me - maybe on priv - example INDD document for testing?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

If you have header + body + footer, then it would be easiest, if you can have it as one TextFrame - not sure if Table could handle it... 

So, initially, contents of your TextFrame would be three paragraphs:

1) header - placed as a group of objects - InLine. 

2) empty - you'll copy your "body" here, 

3) footer - same as header. 

This would make script EXTREMELY simple. 

[Mahendra5E19]

Yes, we are planning to do exactly that so as not to touch header and footer all the time.  What is 'priv'?  I will send the file later today.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Private message - just click on my (nick)name. 

[Mahendra5E19]

Just sent - thanks!

[Robert at ID-Tasker · Accepted solution]

Quick and dirty:

'############
' script start
' (C) www.adobescripts.com
'############
set myInDi = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")
set myDoc = myInDi.ActiveDocument
set mySel = myInDi.Selection.Item(1)

call mySel.Fit(1718906723)
myDoc.DocumentPreferences.PageHeight = mySel.GeometricBounds(2) - mySel.GeometricBounds(0)
myDoc.Pages.Item(1).AppliedMaster = myDoc.MasterSpreads.Item(1)
mySel.GeometricBounds = myDoc.Pages.Item(1).Bounds
'############
' script end
'############

One condition - no error checking so "main" TextFrame needs to be pre-selected.