Problem deleting pages.

Report · Dec 30, 2024

Thanks to everyone that replied to my question about making the size of document smaller. The "Save As" worked. Problem solved.

Now I've got another problem, trying to delete the 1st 6 pages.

Look at Chapt2_Orig_page1.jpg. Notice the 1st paragraph in the left column: "Let me start off saying I’m a Navy Brat. My dad did 22 years in the Navy. So for most of my childhood dad was gone. To all the military brats that may read this, I understand what you’ve been through......"

Look at the Chapt2_Orig_page7.jpg, in the right column there is a picture of an old woman sitting in a chair. Notice the text above the picture: "After grandma White's fall, Dad....." Also notice the blue text in the left column "When we were stationed in Norfolk and Dad’s ship made a long cruse (3 to 9 months) Mom would moved back to NJ, taking me and my sister."

If I go to "Layout", "Pages", "Delete Pages" and select 1-6 look at Chapt2_new_page1.jpg. Notice the picture of the old woman is still there, but the text is all wrong. Look at the beginning text in the left column, it is: "Let me start off saying I’m a Navy Brat. My dad did 22 years in the Navy. So for most of my childhood dad was gone. To all the military brats that may read this, I understand what you’ve been through. Unless one of your parents was in the Military, you won’t..." which is the text at the beginning of the Original page 1, see Chapt2_Orig_page1.jpg.

What am I doing wrong deleting the 1st 6 pages. I expected the "new" page 1 to look like it Chapt2_Orig_page7.jpg. Then I could delete from the beginning of that page to the end of the blue text. So the new page 1 would start with: "In January of 1957 my mom’s father, Thomas White a WW I Vet and golf pro passed away. I was in 2nd grade at Granby Elementary school in Norfolk. I was taken out of school and mom, Jody, and I moved up to grandma White’s house in West Orange, New Jersey to settle the estate......"

JohnT

Report · Dec 30, 2024

What you have there is a document with threaded text frames. In InDesign, your text is always going to be in a container called a frame. Frames can be connected with threads, so when all your text doesn't fit in one frame, it can flow automatically to the next. I remember from your earlier posts that you're using CS4, right? I think it hasn't changed locations in the menus in the years since I've seen the inside of CS4: View -> Extras -> Show Text Threads. That way, you can at least see how they're linked, at least once you've selected a text in a thread with the Selection tool (the black pointer).

So, if I needed to preserve the threaded nature of my document, and I needed to delete the first six pages, I'd probably just delete six pages from the Pages panel, then I'd switch to the Text tool and delete six pages worth of text, from the Navy brat to "... taking me and my sister." That's the fastest way to go about it, I think. There are ways to break text threads, or to use a script to unthread every frame in the document, as well as other more sophisticated methods that I'd probably write about if your posts read like a young graphic designer in need of education... but I'm not sure exactly what your goal is in editing this document, and how likely it is that you want to be educated on Everything InDesign Can Do.

Report · Dec 31, 2024

@jblair1948

Text in InDesign can't exist on its own - it needs to be in a container - normally, you use TextFrame tool to draw a Rectangle but you can convert any shape to be container for a text - or use Text on Path .

Then, there is a Story / thread - which always consists of at least one text container - TextFrame with any shape or Text on Path.

As @Joel Cherney suggested, first step would be to turn on Show Text Threads.

Then, go spread by spread from the beginning of your document, double click on the spread, then hit Ctrl+A to see which TextFrames go past page 6.

If any text goes past page 6 - either go to the next TextFrame and put your text cursor at the beginng of this TextFrame - or go to the last TextFrame before page 7 and put text cursor at the end of this TextFrame - then press Ctrl+Shift+Home - this will select all text from your text cursor to the start of this Story / thread - hit delete.

After you're done doing this for each Story / thread on pages 1-6 - you can delete pages 1-6.

This should be easier than trying to figure out how much text has moved.

Report · Dec 31, 2024

Not much to add to the two excellent answers, but this post made me flinch — I knew I should have sketched out how to delete pages in a document in the prior thread.

It's all in the concept that content is not — usually — anchored to individual pages, but is fluid and will flow and reflow across layout pages as changes are made. Text and pages are separate elements in most InDesign layouts.

Report · Dec 31, 2024

However, I will add this: with the file-size issue (bloat) resolved, do you still need to split the file up? As long as you manage the saved file sizes with the occasional Save-As, a single file should remain within manageable size.

Report · Dec 31, 2024

Terminating Links or Stopping The Text Flow

Thanks again to everyone for taking your time to answer my questions.

James asked, if with the bloat ware problem solved do I still need to break apart the document. The answer is yes.

If you'd like to know more please read the next several paragrphs. Otherwise just skip down to my next question.

Why? Well this is my autobiography and it's now 47 pages long. My dad started one to let my boys know more about him. So I thought it would be a good idea for me to do it also, to keep some of the family stories alive. I keep trying to get family members to read this and tell me if they can thing of any stories they've heard that I haven't answered. Several have suggested that I break this into Chapters so they could read a smaller segment and make comments. Plus from my standpoint, I've to a ton of pictures in it and every time I start changing the text I have to re-adjust where the pictures are. The closer to the front that I add a picture and/or a new story the more of a pain it is to have to move through every page and move things around. I would only have to worry about the 7 to 10 pages in the chapter not all 47 pages. So I was thinking about doing this also, but never expected it to be such a hassle.

No that that's said, I want to tell you all a little about me. For starters I'm 75 and retired for the Dept. Of Navy Civil Service as an Electronic Engineer, and Systems programmer, and am a Navy Vet. I know just enough about Indesign that I'm dangerious. I have used it and it's predecessor Pagemaker 4, 5, 6 to put together a 24 page magazine quarterly for Bricklin International. I had wanted to take an "in class" course but couldn't find one at the local community college or the Univ. So I had to settle for an online class for Indesign.

In doing the magazine I did move pages around, but never had to break a thread or try to do something like what I'm doing with the autobiography. I've just had to wing it laying out The Brickline. (If any one is interested in seeing a copy you can email me directly and I'll email you a copy. My email is jblair1948@cox.net.). One of you all mentioned did I want to learn more about Indesign. The answer is YES!!! I know there is so much I don't know as I did work with it every day, and didn't have any real mentor. For one, you all mentioned "a spread". I don't think I know what that means. Except that when I have 2 pages side by side, ie page 2 & 3, and have the selection tool (solid black arrow) selected and clicked on one of the pages, and I do a Ctrl A, to select all, it only selects everything (text and pictures) one only the 2 pages, 2 & 3.

My next question.
How to I stop the flow of text at the end of pages 6, so I can delete pages 1 - 6?

002_Pages6&7.jpg - shows pages 6 & 7 with "Show Text Threads" on.

I selected the "selection tool" (solid black arrow), I went to the out port (I think I have the correct name and location - I circled it - the larger at the beginning of the text in text area) at the end of page 6 and double clicked on it. The one marked Out Port on 002_Pages6&7_a.jpg

002_Pages6&7_b_TriedToStopTextFlow.jpg - shows what happened. All text to the end of the 47 pages was deleted. And if I now click on the output port on page 6 it shows that the text starting a page is loaded into the link icon (not sure what you call it.) I tried to do a print screen of the link icon and the text it had, but for some reason it wouldn't capture the link thing.

I thought this was going to break the flow of text from page 6 to page 7 so I could delete the 1st 6 pages and have page 7 be the new page 1 for the 2nd chapter.

Looking for more your wisdom and instruction/education.

TIA

JohnT

Report · Dec 31, 2024

@jblair1948

47 pages IS NOTHING for InDesign 🙂

Don't waste your time splitting your document.

Report · Dec 31, 2024

@jblair1948

Have you missed my earlier reply?

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/problem-deleting-pages/m-p/15064528#M603714

About clicking on in/out ports - you won't break text that way. Clicking on those let you create a new TextFrame.

Report · Dec 31, 2024

Thank everyone for the time you are spending trying to mentor me. Please hang in there with me, eventually I'll understand what you're trying to tell me.

>Robert at ID-Tasker wrote:

>47 pages IS NOTHING for InDesign 🙂

>Don't waste your time splitting your document.

47 pages may be nothing for InDesign, but from my standpoint it's a real pain. I have over 110 pictures in those 48 pages. When I add something to the document I have to go from that point to the end of the document realigning the pictures to the text that is referencing them. So when it's near the beginning of the document it takes me a long time to go through the entire document.

>Have you missed my earlier reply?

>https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/problem-deleting-pages/m-p/15064528#M603714

>About clicking on in/out ports - you won't break text that way. Clicking on those let you create a new TextFrame.

No, I didn't miss your link. I read it and tried to do what you said. In the information in the link you say,

>"Then, go spread by spread from the beginning of your document, double click on the spread, then hit
>Ctrl+A to see which TextFrames go past page 6."

I guess my 1st problem with this is I don't know what a spread is. According to "Indesign4 for Dummies", a spread is where any 2 pages are touching. So in my case pages 2 & 3, since page 1 is free standing.

Am I supposed to be doing this in the document or via the "Pages panel"?

Which tool am I supposed to be using the selector or text tool?

I turned "Show Text Threads". Then using the "Selector" tool I went to the 1st spread, pages 2 & 3 and clicked inside page 2. The threads flowed through the entire document.

I got to the end of page 7 and put my "Text tool" at the end of the last character on that page, and pressed ".

> Ctrl+Shift+Home - this will select all text from your text cursor to the start of this Story / thread - hit delete.

When I did this, all the text from page 7 back to the beginning of the document was deleted.

However the 14 pictures that were on those 7 pages stayed.

Now I guess I have to select the 14 pictures that should have been deleted, and delete them, and then relocate all the pictures that were supposed to stay to where they belong in this new Chapter?

I take it there is no way to get the pictures to be deleted from those pages when I deleted the text? That why I was trying to find a way to delete the actual pages.
OK, I think I found a way to do what I'm was trying to do. Although I wish there were a cleaner, easier way to do it.

I went to the beginning of the new Chapt 2 document, which is the entire document. Now I need to delete from the beginning to page 8.

Start by going to page 2

1. Select the "Selection tool", the press "Ctrl A", hold them down and click on either of the 2 pages in that spread. That will select everything (text, pictures and captions) in that spread. The press "Delete". Everything on those 2 pages are gone. But the page still remains. Don't worry about that now.

2. Move pages 3 & 4 and repeat #1 above.

3. Repeat until your at the last spread before the spread you want to have as the beginning of this new chapter.

4. Now you have to get rid of (delete) the empty pages. I found 2 options here.
a. Go to the "Layout" menu and select "Pages", then select "Delete Pages", enter pages to be deleted
like 2-7 and press delete.
b. Go to the pages panel, scroll up to page 2&3. Press and hold the "Shift key" now and then select
the pages 2-7 (the will all get colored). Once the pages are selected on a Windows PC, left
click on the last page and hold the button down and drag to the trash can on the pages panel.

Thanks everyone!!!!!!! I really appreciate the help.

Report · Dec 31, 2024

When I add something to the document I have to go from that point to the end of the document realigning the pictures to the text that is referencing them. So when it's near the beginning of the document it takes me a long time to go through the entire document.

By @jblair1948

Anchor / InLine your images in the Text - then, they'll move with your text:

https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/indesign/using/anchored-objects.html

In short - select your Image, Cut it, then put cursor in the Text, where you want this image to be - and press Ctrl+V / Paste.

Then, do the same with the Description of the Image - select Text - not the TextFrame - Cut, Paste under the photo in the main story.

Image and description should be in separate Paragraphs - and you should create and apply dedicated Paragraph styles to both.

After you study link above - you'll be able to set preferences for the object to either automatically position itself in the corner of the page - within margins - or you can move it manually - but you won't have to move your images between pages.

I guess my 1st problem with this is I don't know what a spread is.

Spread can have one or more pages

Am I supposed to be doing this in the document or via the "Pages panel"?

Regular pages - not in the Pages Panel.

I turned "Show Text Threads". Then using the "Selector" tool I went to the 1st spread, pages 2 & 3 and clicked inside page 2.

Technically it's a 2nd spread 😉

I got to the end of page 7 and put my "Text tool" at the end of the last character on that page, and pressed

Almost - put your cursor at the BEGINNING - as you want to delete all of the text BEFORE text that you see on the Page 7.

> Ctrl+Shift+Home - this will select all text from your text cursor to the start of this Story / thread - hit delete.

When I did this, all the text from page 7 back to the beginning of the document was deleted.

However the 14 pictures that were on those 7 pages stayed.

That's fine - as I've said before - Text needs to be inside containers - TextFrames - and you are editing - deleting text.

Images - you've placed on the Page(s) so they are independend of your text - unless you Anchor / InLine them.

When you delete Text - you are deleting part of the Story - not the TextFrames/containers

Now you can go to Pages Panel and select pages 1-6 - and delete them.

Everything that is on those pages - all the text CONTAINERS and images - or rather their Containters and then images - will be deleted - as pages they are on will be deleted.