Text Variable Running Header pulled from GREP'd style

[culver-king]

For simplest explanation, I have a glossary, the entries are formatted similar to this:

Entry name lorem ipsum 1: Entry definition, description, etcetera lorem ipsum

Entry name lorem ipsum 2: Entry definition, description, etcetera lorem ipsum

Entry name lorem ipsum 3: Entry definition, description, etcetera lorem ipsum

I have a para style for the whole entry and use a char style for the entry name using a GREP string attached to the para style.

On each page I want to have a running header that gives the range of entries on that page that should look like this:

Entry name lorem ipsum 1 - Entry name lorem ipsum 2

I'm using two RUNNING HEADER (CHAR STYLE) text variables, one for the first instance and one for the last. However, its not recognizing the char style text that is applied via a GREP in the para style.

Any workarounds? Or did I do this wrong?

[Manan Joshi · Accepted solution]

Hi @culver-king,

You did it right, and I also see the same results. Running header does not seem to find the Grep Styles. On doing a search on the forum I was able to locate a couple of older threads that got the same results as us. See them listed below

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/how-to-make-indesign-choose-the-actual-1st-word-...

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/grep-styles-in-indexes/m-p/9432942

However running header does seem to work with nested styles. See if you can use nested styles to apply the styling on the entry name. The next option could be to use Find/Change query to apply the character style.

-Manan

[culver-king]

I was working on trying it with Nested Styles as I received this notification. It seems to work better, yes. Interestingly, the first entry on the first page doesn't work, but the last does. On subsequent pages it seems to work fine. Trying to figure out why the first instance isn't working on the first page. Will report back... are you seeing the same issue if built with nested?

[culver-king]

In fact it was my error on why the first entry wasn't working. It was a matter of an incorrectly styled paragraph. Nested Styles is the answer for this problem for future InDesign users trying automate Paragraph Styles and Characters Styles and have them appear correctly in Running Headers.