Copy and paste multiple grouped objects into text frame inline?

[caustinFUB]

Hi all, I have been able to figure out how to copy and paste one grouped object (text and images) into a new text frame, and have it inline within the text frame.  I can paste multiple grouped objects into the same text frame as long as I do them one at a time.  Is there any way to paste multiple grouped objects into one text frame?  If I do copy multiple grouped objects, all the paste options are grayed out if I'm trying to paste into a text frame.  What I'm trying to do is have all these grouped objects in a text frame, so that I can easily re-order them and have the other objects adjust position accordingly.  Then I can spread that text frame out over multiple pages.

My problem is I have hundreds of grouped objects I need to paste into one giant text frame.  Any ideas?  This is coming from a data merge.

[Scott Falkner]

When pasting an anchored object into a text frame you must do it one anchored object at a time, unless you are pasting selected text, which includes anchored objects. What you want to do in impossible.

[caustinFUB · Accepted solution]

I did find a solution to this... I can merge directly into a text frame, and all of the entries will populate within the same text frame.

[thedudedylan]

could you go into more detail on the solution you found? how did you merge the group of elements into the box inline?

[Creamer Training]

That's exactly what Data Merge is supposed to do. Do you need something more advanced?

[thedudedylan]

I guess I just don't know what data merge is or where to find it but ill do some research and give it a try. 

[Creamer Training]

No worries--everything takes time. 

There is a bunch of videos on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=indesign+data+merge

LinkedIn Learning (formally Lynda.com) has a number of videos too:

https://www.linkedin.com/learning/search?keywords=indesign%20data%20merge

You can sign up for one-month free trial here--just remember to cancel before one month is up:

https://www.linkedin.com/learning/subscription/products?destRedirectURL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Elinkedin...

[thedudedylan]

Thank you for the links. It looks like this is not the tool I was looking for to do what I want to do. 

Currently I am trying to take groups of images and text boxes that are grouped and stack them on top of one another within a text box that spans multiple pages so that if I need to remove or add a section from the middle I won't have to readjust all the subsequent sections. 

Not sure if that made any sense but that is where I am. 

[Creamer Training]

Sorry for the delay.

Just to clarify a few things...

When you say "span" do you mean a page-to-page text flow or a group that covers multiple pages? (I learned "span" as an image or text that crosses the verso and recto pages.)

When you remove a grouped element, do you want the ones below to reflow into position under the ones above? For example, I delete grouped element 20 and want element 21 (and those below it) to shuffle up one postion.