Shifting Images in Table Cell

[PJ in NH]

I’m in the process of creating documents (which flows over several pages) in InDesign. The documents will consist of a table containing 3 columns and multiple rows. The 1st and 3rd columns contain text, and the 2nd column contains graphic cells which are filled with an image (each row is dedicated to a different project/job).

When finished, these documents will be used for different marketing submissions which will be customized (i.e., the rows will have to be moved around into a different order depending on the type of project we are submitting for).

When I move these rows to a different position I’m finding that the images shift down by a 1/4 to a 1/2 inch. I tried formatting the images in Photoshop to match the size of the cell, but they still shift. Is there a way I can fix this/lock the images into place within the cell?

I’m using InDesign CC 2019 on Windows 7.

[Abambo]

Discussion successfully moved from Adobe Creative Cloud to InDesign

[Laubender]

Hi PJ,

depending on the way you are shifting table rows around the height of a specfic row likely will change.

Are all cells of the same height? In the whole table? Or do they auto grow when you are adding text?

Regards,
Uwe

[PJ in NH]

The row size is locked in place so they don't auto grow as I need to make sure there are 5 rows per page which fill up the maximum amount of allowed vertical space.

[Barb Binder]

Hi PJ:

There are two ways to add an image into a cell in an InDesign table: as an inline image or in a graphic cell (the frame fits to the size of the cell). Which one are you using?

~Barb

[PJ in NH]

Graphic Cell.

[Barb Binder]

Thanks, PJ:

So could you show us a before/after screen shot with hidden characters and frame edges visible?

~Barb

[PJ in NH]

[PJ in NH]

Note, I do have inside margins inside the graphic cells.

[Barb Binder]

Hi PJ:

So as I understand it, this approximates your layout:

After I move the row, here is my result (no shifting):

So, let's review how you are moving the row. With the Type tool selected, I pointed to the left edge of the table to select the row. Then hovering over the selected row (though not over the image), I dragged the row down one row and released when the blue horizontal line was visible.

~Barb

[PJ in NH]

I move it either by dragging (as you describe) or by inserting a blank row and copy/cut and paste into the blank row (which has to be done this way as some of the InDesign documents will be addressing different types of projects  (a listing for residence halls and a separate listing for student unions, for example, being combined).  Either way I've done it, I still get the shifted image most of the time.

[Laubender · Accepted solution]

Hi PJ,

I can see your issue now while testing with InDesign CC 2019.

No issue if the frame fitting options are set to Auto Fit ( "Automatisch einpassen" in my German InDesign is checked 😞

Original row is the first, duplicated row is the last in the table.

I see the issue as soon as I turn off this option:

Regards,
Uwe

[PJ in NH]

This is fantastic.  You are the best!!!  This will save me so much time.  Thank you!!

[Barb Binder]

Hmmm. I get the same results with or without auto-fit checked, Uwe.

But if that fixes it for you PJ, please let us know.

~Barb

[PJ in NH]

I tried it a few times and it was ok.  i hope it stays that way.

[Barb Binder]

That's great news, PJ!

~Barb

[Laubender]

BarbBinder  wrote

Hmmm. I get the same results with or without auto-fit checked, Uwe.

But if that fixes it for you PJ, please let us know.

~Barb

Hi Barb,

sorry, currently I have no time for further tests.

Maybe there are more factors that contribute to the issue.

Some preferences set or not set…

Regards,
Uwe

[Barb Binder]

No worries, Uwe. I'm glad you figured it out for the OP—it's working as expected so that's all that matters.

~Barb

[Laubender]

Hi Barb,

all my tests were done on InDesign CC 2019 version 14.0.2.324 on Windows 10.

What's your exact version of InDesign?

What's your operating system?

Just to verify if it's perhaps a Windows version issue…

It may help if you could post a link to a document where you set auto-fit to unchecked.

the OP could test your document and see if perhaps a document preference is a contributing factor.

Regards,
Uwe

[Laubender]

Hi Barb,

I can already see this issue with InDesign CC 2015.4 on Windows 10 and on Mac OS X 10.11.6.

Here a link to my Dropbox if you like to test the issue:

Dropbox - Table-with-GraphicCell-CC-2015.4.zip - Simplify your life

Page 1 contains the graphic frame where the frame fitting options are done with Auto Fit checked.

Page 2 contains the graphic frame where the frame fitting options are done with Auto Fit unchecked.

Regards,
Uwe