Master Text and Children

[Susan Flamingo]

I have a group of documents that are similar in some ways for example:

Doc 1 is three PP long, Par A B C

Doc 2 is 5 PP long, Par: A B C D E F

Doc 3 is 4 PP long but has par: A D E F.

etc. etc.

I am constantly fine-tuning very minute changes to these documents.

Is there a way I can work on *one* DOC that has, say, Par A, and as I update that doc, Par A in all the docs will reflect those updates?

Right now I am updating, copying, and pasting, which doesn't seem an efficient way to do things.

Thanks in advance,

Susan 

[jmlevy · Accepted solution]

Creat the longest one (doc 2) and import it in the shortest (1 and 3) by choosing the pages you need to get. Updating the “master” will  also update the “children”

[Susan Flamingo]

Ok, I started a new, "child", empty doc.

Imported (place) one page from another ("master") doc.

The page appears in frame in the "child" doc.

returned to "master doc" and deleted one letter.

returned to new "child doc" and the letter is still there...

What am I doing wrong?

[jmlevy]

Check the link panel, you should see the modified icon, exactly as a
modified image. Juste update it.

[Susan Flamingo]

Thank you. Works fine. Just will add that changes to the master doc will not trigger the "update" icon until the master doc is saved.

Thanks again

[jmlevy]

Yes, it works exactly as an image link. If you modify an image but do not save the changes, the InDesign document which it is placed in does not “see” the modification.

[Susan Flamingo]

Is there a reason why the fonts in the child doc are a little blurred? Will this affect the printing output? Is there a way that on the screen it can show correctly?

[jmlevy]

Just change your display performances, it is exactly the same when you place a PDF or an AI file with text: it looks blurry if the display performances are set up on “standard”. 

[Susan Flamingo]

Perfect. Thank you so much...

[Susan Flamingo]

Two basic questions (I am still learning:)

1. If the linked page in from the master file gets pushed up because of OTHER things being added to the master file (that I DONT want in the child file) and the linked page gets changed from, say, pg 5 to pg 7 will ID know to continue the link, but now from pg 7?

2. If I move the master file to a different location, will ID ask me where the file is and update the link as programmed or will I have to "relink" all the pages again?

Thanks a million

Susan

[jmlevy]

1. If you have placed a single page of your master (let's say page 5) and if you modify the master, you will see the new page 5 in your child file

2. Exactly like an image: you will get a “missing link” warning.

[Susan Flamingo]

Ok, but maybe you have an ingenious answer to work this out, that even if the linked page changes from 5 to 6, the child document will still show 6?

If I get a missing link warning will it ask me "hey man where is the file, or do I have to totally relink all the links again?

[jmlevy]

1. No, I don't think it is possible. You had imported one specific page (i.e. page 5), InDesigh shows you the updated page 5. You need to relink the file to change the page you want to import)

2. It is exactly like any placed file: if you move the link, you get the question mark icon and you have to relink the file.