Make a caption frame style as the default for captions

[ianhgsy]

Hi

Dear all,

I have a default caption frame style [Caption frame].  When I create static or live captions from the image frame it doesn't use my default and I have to apply the style manually.  I am sure there is a setting somewhere that tells InDesign to use my chosen style rather than its chosen one.  I have, I think, gone through all the various settings but cannot find any options.

I am probably missing something obvious so would be gratefull for someone to give me a clue.

Many thanks.

Ian

[Steve Werner]

You want to store your frame style as an object style. 

https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/object-styles.html

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Object Style is the right answer here, but given the convolutions of the caption feature, where would you automatically attach the style to newly generated caption frames? I can only see a manual assignment as an option — after which, of course, the style could be managed.

[ianhgsy]

Sadly, I think you are right. 

[rob day]

If you set up a Layer for the captions an object style could be easily applied globally via a script:

The script:

var d = app.activeDocument;
//expects a Layer named Captions and an Object Style named Caption—ajust names as needed
var tf = d.layers.itemByName("Captions").textFrames.everyItem().appliedObjectStyle = d.objectStyles.itemByName("Caption")

Result:

[James Gifford—NitroPress · Accepted solution]

Not sure I follow this. Yes, IF the caption frames are (manually) moved to another layer, you can apply a global fix, but that separates elements of the feature, which is already cranky about how it's managed. Wouldn't it be equal effort and perhaps more stable to just apply the Object Style to each caption frame? Since a manual step has to be involved?

[rob day]

I have a default caption frame style [Caption frame]

Hi @ianhgsy , It looks like generated captions always get the [None] Object Style applied. You can use Options>Captions>Captions Setup... to set a Paragraph Style for new captions, and set a destination layer. So a simple script could get all of the captions on the caption layer, and apply any Object Style:

[ianhgsy]

Thank you to you all for the various suggestions.    I think I am going to stick James' thoughts and continue doing it manually. 

Thanks again.

Ian