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jbully0
jbully0
Inspiring
September 12, 2017
Answered

Indesign CC - layout a dual language book, 2nd language reverse order and upside down

  • September 12, 2017
  • 3 replies
  • 5314 views

Hi -

I'm trying to layout a dual language book where you flip the book over so that each language looks like it has a front cover and flows from left to right.  So the first half is easy, but the second language needs to be upside down and the text frames flow in reverse order starting from the last page and going to the middle of the book. 

Any ideas on how to do this simply?

I have a master page for each language, the second language is set upside down (header on bottom etc).  I was thinking I have to manually thread frames in the reverse order and then rotate each one of them to make them upside down?

Correct answer SJRiegel

Yes, set up enough blank pages at the end of the first document to accommodate the second one.

From there, File > Place. Shift-select the alternate-language ID file (or select with Show Import Options checked) and choose all pages. Then place each page from back to front, going back afterwards to rotate them.

3 replies

M.Hasanin
M.Hasanin
Inspiring
December 6, 2021

Hi, I already explain How to do that in the youtube video including Arabic and English Book (Story) in the same Document :

https://youtu.be/Ij1Imk_yiYw 

and you will find the Script in the Video Description, or you can Download the two scripts discussed in the video (Reverse InDesign Pages with Page Numbering) and (Merge InDesign Docs InDesign) JavaScripts - English Version Included from Here :
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1yebSbG5WGLt1LF28on0jPKBP6XzNnBO2?usp=sharing 

 

 

BestMohammad Hasanin
    S
    SJRiegel
    Legend
    September 12, 2017

    The page numbers are in the other-language document before I place it.  - to be clear, I'm not pasting the content in. The entire document page can be placed like a graphic, and will update as changes to the original document are made.

    jbully0
    jbully0Author
    Inspiring
    September 12, 2017

    OK so how do I place the 2nd document in then?  And do I need the correct number of pages already setup in the first doc?  (and thank you for your help!!!!)

    S
    SJRiegelCorrect answer
    Legend
    September 12, 2017

    Yes, set up enough blank pages at the end of the first document to accommodate the second one.

    From there, File > Place. Shift-select the alternate-language ID file (or select with Show Import Options checked) and choose all pages. Then place each page from back to front, going back afterwards to rotate them.

    S
    SJRiegel
    Legend
    September 12, 2017

    When I do this, I set up two separate documents, and then place the pages for the second language onto the first document.

    jbully0
    jbully0Author
    Inspiring
    September 12, 2017

    What about the page numbering?   You want the last page of the book (first page of 2nd language) to start at 1 again. 

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