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J
jay fresno
Inspiring
July 27, 2018
Answered

Table continuation

  • July 27, 2018
  • 2 replies
  • 7643 views

I know about the clunky workarounds for this missing feature in InDesign.

The tables are placed and linked from Excel and I'm trying to come up with a table continued line that doesn't require a lot of manual work each time the table is changed in Excel and updated in InDesign.

Does anyone know of a efficient way to do a table continuation line in InDesign when a table spans multiple pages and need to be updated frequently?

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Jongware

    But InDesign does have the option for multi-row headers. I don't see what the problem is. Just try it!

    1. Insert a row above your current header. Type "(continued)" in this.

    2. Copy your current header row(s).

    3. Mark the header rows to be repeated – including the top 'continued' row (well, you cannot not mark it) – as Table Header.

    4. Set the table options to skip the header rows. All of your current headers will disappear.

    5. Insert blank rows for your number of actual – not counting the 'continued' line – header rows. Paste yours inside it.

    This is my current workflow for long tables, and it works without a hitch, no matter if the table does or does not span a page. The only thing to keep in mind is that you have the same header text in two places, so if you edit, remmeber to edit in both the "top (visible) row" and the repeating header at the top of the next page.

    2 replies

    D
    Dhaivat Chhaya
    Known Participant
    December 4, 2020

    Hi, this does work well but the tables in the text book I am working on, are auto numbered as 1.1, 1.2, 1.3...2.1, 2.2, 2.3 (chapterNumber.tableNumber). In this case, the method you have described does work but the table numbering changes. Is there any solution to this? Could you please help?

    Dave Creamer of IDEAS
    Community Expert
    Dave Creamer of IDEASCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 28, 2018

    What technique are you currently using?

    Unlike FrameMaker, InDesign does not have table continued/sheet variables. (A shame...)

    The best method I've seen is to dupe the first row that is formatted to look like a header row (using Cell styles). Convert the top row to a header row with the "(continued)" text added to it. Then choose the Skip First option for the table. The second row, which is not a header but looks just like one, appears on the first instance of the table; the actual header row with the continued text appears on the rest of the instances.

    If you use Table and Cell styles exclusively for your formatting, you can link to the Excel file. A couple of clicks is all it would take to apply the modified formatting.

    David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
      J
      jay fresnoAuthor
      Inspiring
      July 28, 2018

      Thanks, IDEAS. I know about that workaround. The reason it doesn't work for me is that I need to have the continued line above the header. row, not within the same row. If InDesign had the option to have two header rows combined with the option to skip just the top header row, then it would work for me. But I've not seen that as an option.

      J
      jay fresnoAuthor
      Inspiring
      July 28, 2018

      But InDesign does have the option for multi-row headers. I don't see what the problem is. Just try it!

      1. Insert a row above your current header. Type "(continued)" in this.

      2. Copy your current header row(s).

      3. Mark the header rows to be repeated – including the top 'continued' row (well, you cannot not mark it) – as Table Header.

      4. Set the table options to skip the header rows. All of your current headers will disappear.

      5. Insert blank rows for your number of actual – not counting the 'continued' line – header rows. Paste yours inside it.

      This is my current workflow for long tables, and it works without a hitch, no matter if the table does or does not span a page. The only thing to keep in mind is that you have the same header text in two places, so if you edit, remmeber to edit in both the "top (visible) row" and the repeating header at the top of the next page.


      Jongware, I'm glad you responded because now I know that it's probably not something that can easily be scripted.

      Yes, I could have two header rows. If InDesign had the ability to skip just the first header row on the first page, that would work fine. But with multiple tables and periodic updates to the tables from Excel, using your method requires a fair amount of manual formatting, which I'm trying to avoid.

      If I did do as you suggest, I'd need to put a white box over the first of the two header rows on the first page. That's possible.

      But it all comes down to the fact that InDesign table features need significant improvement.

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