Trouble selecting the "paragraph" that inline graphics occupy

[MarieMeyer]

CC on a Mac. Here is a screen shot of a typical page. The photos are all inline objects sitting on a 1 line paragraph that has its own paragraph style.

I've created a second version of that paragraph style with a few changes and would like to be able to apply it to selected photos. However, I am finding it difficult to select the "paragraph" so that I can apply the new style. Here is a close up:

That first, smaller paragraph symbol is what I am trying to select, but I am unable to get to it with with either the type tool or the black arrow.

Any thoughts? I would like to work with the images this way rather than make them custom anchored objects.

[BobLevine · Accepted solution]

Try it with the story editor.

[MarieMeyer]

Yes, that works.

[MarieMeyer]

I am so glad you clued me on this - I'm using it for other previously-annoying tasks as well. One problem is that occasionally I want to get something off the pasteboard that isn't accessible so long as I am in story editor. Is there a keyboard shortcut for toggling in and out of it?

[BobLevine]

Just arrange the layout and story editor side by side.

[MarieMeyer]

Got time for one more?

I am placing in-line graphics that are 17 points high, and I want some white space above them. Like this:

Here is the story editor for that segment:

The paragraph style "swatchline" is used only for these graphics. it is 1pt high and set to have 9pts space above it.

That gives me the result I want most of the time, but every once in awhile I get no space above it. Here is an example.

Any thoughts?

[Eternal Warrior]

Style override maybe?

Or maybe use some sort of nested style or Grep style to ensure spacing is applied?

[MarieMeyer]

Not sure I follow - are you suggesting those as the source of the problem that I should go look for or as potential solutions to the problem I should try to employ? I assume the former. I don't see and "+" marks in the paragraph styles panel then I place my cursor in the paragraphs before and after the mis-behaving graphic.

I should have mentioned there is an object style applied to each instance of the colored graphic; here are the 3 boxes that might be relevant.

[Obi-wan Kenobi]

Leading/space before!

(^/)

[MarieMeyer]

I'm sorry I don't understand. I know what leading is but can you explain why it is the problem here ?

[Eternal Warrior]

The Force is strong in this one

Don't know why I ignored my brain when it noticed that...

[Eternal Warrior]

I was suggesting that two styles in close proximity at this point were conflicting and that this meant the space wasn't always applied. I'm sure Bob or Obi-Wan might have more insight and knowledge about this but a paragraph style is essentially still a set of commands. Even if there are no + signs... two styles can for some often strange reasons cancel each other out or react weirdly.

[smoothsea]

Don't forget that you don't have to select the whole paragraph to apply a paragraph style. If you just click to the right of the image, you will be in the right place to apply the style.

Obviously, applying character styles is different because you have to select the text to style ...

Regards,

Malcolm

[Obi-wan Kenobi]

Hi,

If the para style you want to apply is called "Center", just select your image (in fact, its frame; click on it with the "T" tool + Cmd [Mac]) …

Before:

… and just play this:

app.selection[0].parent.appliedParagraphStyle = "Center";

After:

If you associate a keyboard shortcut to this simple script, do it … quick!

(^/)