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Jambo_88
Participating Frequently
February 4, 2025
Answered

Is it possible to to link to a map on the same page and have it auto update?

  • February 4, 2025
  • 4 replies
  • 1365 views

I have a map that gets updated by location. I've been asked to make the locations alpahbetic and whenever a new place gets added it messes up the structure.

 

Is it possible to link these locations below to the numberical points on the map, so that it will keep the format structured after editing? It would save me a lot time in future  🙏

 

Correct answer Laubender

Hi @Jambo_88 ,

to add something to @Robert at ID-Tasker 's wonderful solution:

 

I can see a set-up of elements on the page where the "legend" of the map can be updated semi-automatically with an InDesign menu command:

 

First of all think of full paragraphs in every circle element that contain the whole information. The auto number of a list plus the location in plain text. The location part is formatted as "invisible" with a GREP style in the applied paragraph style. Point size 0.1 Pt, character scaling set to 1% and fill color "None" of the applied character style.

 

To edit an item use the Story Editor window.

 

Then do a Table of Contents with a distinct TOC Style that uses a separate paragraph style that pulls all the information to a TOC that you can update after making changes to the threaded text frames on your map.

 

See screenshots in no particular order from my German InDesign and the attached file MapLegend-SemiAutoUpdateWithTOC.idml.

 

 

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

 

4 replies

L
Community Expert
LaubenderCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
May 20, 2025

Hi @Jambo_88 ,

to add something to @Robert at ID-Tasker 's wonderful solution:

 

I can see a set-up of elements on the page where the "legend" of the map can be updated semi-automatically with an InDesign menu command:

 

First of all think of full paragraphs in every circle element that contain the whole information. The auto number of a list plus the location in plain text. The location part is formatted as "invisible" with a GREP style in the applied paragraph style. Point size 0.1 Pt, character scaling set to 1% and fill color "None" of the applied character style.

 

To edit an item use the Story Editor window.

 

Then do a Table of Contents with a distinct TOC Style that uses a separate paragraph style that pulls all the information to a TOC that you can update after making changes to the threaded text frames on your map.

 

See screenshots in no particular order from my German InDesign and the attached file MapLegend-SemiAutoUpdateWithTOC.idml.

 

 

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

 

    Robert at ID-Tasker
    Robert at ID-Tasker
    Legend
    May 20, 2025

    @Laubender 

     

    That's way better than my idea 😉

     

    m1b
    Community Expert
    m1bCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 16, 2025

    Hi all, I've come from the future to say that I've recently written a script that handles exactly this situation. You can see it at my github repo, where you will find the script as well as instructions, or you can download the script directly.

    - Mark

      m1b
      Community Expert
      m1bCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 10, 2025

      Hi @Jambo_88 can you share a sample document? Showing before and after what it should look like? Are the map locations text frames in Indesign?

      - Mark

      Robert at ID-Tasker
      Robert at ID-Tasker
      Legend
      February 4, 2025

      You have to do it as two separate Stories: 

       

      1) that will hold numbers on your map - linked TextFrames, 

      2) list with places - left on your screenshot. 

       

      When you need to add a new "item" in between existing numbers - you'll have to click out port of the TextFrame with "previous" number and create a new TextFrame - InDesign will keep threading intact.

       

      Then, do "the same" on the left list - and a new entry in the correct place. 

       

      Robert at ID-Tasker
      Robert at ID-Tasker
      Legend
      February 4, 2025

      Of course both Stories need to have Bullets & Numbering turned ON. 

       

      Robert at ID-Tasker
      Robert at ID-Tasker
      Legend
      March 3, 2025

      @Jambo_88

       

      No need to apologise for anything 🙂

       

      Unfortunately, I don't have access to my laptop right now - I can record something later today. 

       

      But again - you need to treat both stories - Legend and TFs on the map - as two DIFFERENT - Stories. 

       

      In no way linked "directly". 

       

      The only common thing is the order of the numbers - numbers automatically generated by InDesign. 

       

      Order of the TFs on the map - their linking / threading order - MUST be the same as order of the paragraphs in the Legend.

       

      Then, in the Legend - to each automatically generated number - you are adding names of the Cities. 

       


      @Jambo_88

       

      There is a way to do it as a kind of one Story, that you could just copy&paste - either from Legend to the map or vice versa - but it would be way more "convoluted"...

       

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