I have a multi layered object with a different language on each layer. Each manual (layer) has numbered steps that are exactly the same in each language. However, the only layer that is printing the step numbers is the top layer. I have exported to PDF each language as the top language and that layer has the step numbers, but the languages below the top layer do not have the step numbers. This glitch just started today after 7 years of using InDesign never seen something like this. I have had a colleague attempt to create the multi-layered/language pdf and they have the same issue. I have uninstalled InDesign, re-installed, and deleted preferences. Not sure where to go now.
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Replies
CC2018 14.0.1 x64
Windows 10 (Brand new system)
Are the numbers set on their own layer in InDesign? No
What's the color of the step numbers? Black
New information. When all layers are made visible as shown, the layers and all information on those layers will print. When only the top layer is visible and all layers are printed only the top layer has all information printed (step numbers). This workaround only works on Mac
not Windows.
This is the desired effect, however, it is not correct nor can I believe Adobe wanted this to work using this method since it worked correctly previously.
Hello Uwe,
I have completely removed the Chinese layer in hopes that that step would remedy the situation. It didn't. 
Realizing you do not have the SKF font, it should substitute that font correct? I did receive a response from Adobe stating to make all layers visible and then print the pdf. This does work but does not remedy the problem in my eyes since it was not necessary to do this until last week. Something changed and I am not sure what? Thanks for the input and assistance.
Tim
Hi Tim,
ok. I substituted every missing font, the whole range of SKF custom fonts made especially for your customer and and also the two YouYuan fonts with Adobe Source Sans and Adobe Fangsong Standard.
Exported page 7 with the Chinese layer visible.
No issues found with automatic numbering:
Still, I think the issue is the fonts you are using.
Regards,
Uwe
timl99453563 wrote
…The sub-layers under Chinese have the numbers as well, correct? …
Ah! There we have the issue!
Maybe I did not understand in the first place where you are seeing the issue!
Yep. The layers like Portugese, Swedish and German miss the numbers when visibility is turned on.
Here the German layer with visibilty set to true from the same PDF document:
Regards,
Uwe
Hi Tim,
tested on. This time by scripting.
I wanted to know the horizontal position of the first insertion point of a numbered paragraph.
Case 1: If the layer of the text frame is visible.
Case 2: If the layer of the text frame is not visible.
Turns out, that InDesign will not render the number for auto numbered paragraphs when layer visibility is turned off.
So this is no bug in the export engine. It's a bug in the composition engine of InDesign.
Here an experiment I did with a fresh InDesign document.
Just one text frame in the document holding a single paragraph with auto numbering turned on.
First auto number is 100, point size is 200 for demonstrating the issue.
Goal:
Meassure the horizontal position of the first insertion point in the frame.
Do that with the layer holding the text frame visibility turned on.
And as a second test do it with visibility turned off.
First attempt: Result is 139.7. Exactly the position the character "T" is beginning after the auto number.
The vertical guide colored in Cyan is indicating the position of the first insertion point.
Second attempt: Layer visibilty is turned off. Result: 12.7.
Just the beginning of the text frame that is not visble on the page.
The vertical guide colored in Red is indicating the position of the now invisible first insertion point:
Conclusion:
If a layer's visibility is turned off auto numbering is not rendered.
And therefore not exported to PDF.
Here the ExtendScript (JavaScript) code snippet that I used:
( function()
{
// Do nothing if no document is open:
if( app.documents.length == 0 ){ return };
// Do nothing if there is no text frame or if there is more than one text frame in the document:
if( app.documents[0].textFrames.length != 1 ){ return };
// The first insertion point in the frame:
var firstInsertionPoint = app.documents[0].textFrames[0].insertionPoints[0];
// The horizontal position of that insertion point:
var horizontalOffset = firstInsertionPoint.horizontalOffset;
// Alert the horizontal position:
alert( horizontalOffset );
}() )
Regards,
Uwe
//EDITED
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