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carls41399372
Participant
February 7, 2019
Answered

Numerous doc/docx issues

  • February 7, 2019
  • 4 replies
  • 543 views

Hi - When I place word doc or docx files in ID2018 styles and text wrap are ignored. For instance, if I have two hard line breaks between paragraphs 1 or both are ignored (leaving no space between paragraphs). Text wrap does not always work, leaving text below images that appear to be correctly formatted. Also, fonts change spontaneously. Mangal replaces times new roman; italics are ignored; paragraph indents are ignored, and so on. I have been using ID since it was introduced, and have seen some of these problems before, but with the nesest version it is 10x worse. Any suggestions welcome. Thanks, Carl

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer jane-e

    Ah. Use File > Place to import Word documents into InDesign.

    ~Barb


    Yes, File > Place is best, as Barb said.

    For Style Mapping as Bob said and Derek alluded to choose, File > Place, select the file > Long press Shift as you click Open/Place to bring up Options, including Style Mapping.

    After my Word file is placed, I also open Character styles and delete garbage ones such as HTML preformatted, Styles from MS Word, etc., and choose to remove any formatting they include. This can also be achieved through Style Mapping.

    Jane

    4 replies

    Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com
    Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com
    Legend
    February 8, 2019

    The advice of my colleagues above are good practices.

    But we need to know how you're placing the Word files into InDesign.

    Which method are you using?:

    1. Copying the text and graphics from Word and pasting them into your InDesign layout?
    2. Using the File / Place utility and flowing the file into your layout?
    3. If using the File / Place utility, are you selecting the Import Options and setting how the file will be interpreted when flowed into InDesign?
    |    Bevi Chagnon   |  Designer, Trainer, & Technologist for Accessible Documents ||    PubCom |    Classes & Books for Accessible InDesign, PDFs & MS Office |
      Barb Binder
      Community Expert
      Barb BinderCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 7, 2019

      Hi Carl:

      Font issues are part of the game, unfortunately. After placing the Word docs, I always use Type > Find Fonts to find the unneeded fonts that float in with the Word docs and replace them with the correct fonts. It takes a few minutes, but is worth it.

      To help ID font issues quickly (and know when they are gone), click the + button at the top of the Character or Paragraph Styles panels to highlight overrides in a teal color.

      This part is unexpected:

      I have two hard line breaks between paragraphs 1 or both are ignored (leaving no space between paragraphs). Text wrap does not always work, leaving text below images that appear to be correctly formatted.

      Can you share a screen shot of a few paragraphs of the Word doc with ¶ showing, and then the same few paragraphs in InDesign (with Type > Show Hidden Characters enabled) that illustrate these issues so that we can see the before and after?

      ~Barb

      ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
      BobLevine
      Community Expert
      BobLevineCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 7, 2019

      Are you mapping styles when importing? Make sure to show options when doing so.

      Derek Cross
      Community Expert
      Derek CrossCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 7, 2019

      Are you using the facilities of InDesign's Microsoft Word Import Options dialogue box?

      C
      carls41399372Author
      Participant
      February 7, 2019

      This is an existing CS4 doc. I just dragged and dropped.

      Barb Binder
      Community Expert
      Barb BinderCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 7, 2019

      Ah. Use File > Place to import Word documents into InDesign.

      ~Barb

      ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
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