How to find if text frame is full so that can add new text frame and link to previous one

[ashishktrig]

I am working in application in which I need to parse the xml files and display its content in the text frame. The issue is there are almost 500 different xml files and there are lot of variations in its content. 

I know I can add new text frame and link it to old text frame but how to find out whether the previous text frame is fully occupied or not. There might be condition that frames can be strached up to 4 to 5 pages and some time it get occupied only in one page. Also will be situations where new text frame shouldn't be part of the earlier thread so from which location should I start the new frame.

How to handle this scario. Please help..

[Manan Joshi]

Textframe has an overflows property, which returns true if there is an overset

-Manan

[ashishktrig]

Hi Manan,

So does it mean if there is possibility that frame can extend from 1 page to 5 page based on the dynamic contents of xml file I will have to check the frame overflow property 5 times..

Regards,

[Manan Joshi]

Hi Ashish,

I am not aware of your workflow its difficult to guess, however if you are adding frames via code then placing the content then you will have to test the overflow in each textframe to decide if a new frame has to be added and linked. You could also look at using Smart Reflow functionality, which will automatically add pages and textframes if the master textframe has an overset. This should save you from all the trouble of tracking overset and creating new/linking frames. Have a look if it suits your needs

https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/threading-text.html#use_smart_text_reflow

-Manan

[ashishktrig]

Thanks Manan,

Will check if I can handle it with the help of link shared by you..

Regards,

[Laubender · Accepted solution]

Hi Ashish,

be aware that there could be conditions on text formatting or other contents in stories that would create a permanent text overflow. Even if you are adding text frames to a story.

So be very careful with constructions like:

while( myStory.textContainers[ myStory.textContainers.length-1 ].overflows )
{ doSomething() };

Always add another condition , perhaps a counter, that could stop the while loop.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[Manan Joshi]

Hi Uwe,

Could you please elaborate and point the scenarios where this could happen. This is new, that i fortunately never faced, would like to know more about this.

-Manan

[Laubender]

Hi Manan,

just format two consecutive lines of text of the same paragraph with property no break.

That would send the text to a permanent overflow.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[Manan Joshi]

Ahh, got it that happens because the line width exceeds the textframe width and that can't be resolved without resizing the width of the frame.

-Manan

[Jongware]

"No Break" is a favourite, but I regularly encounter any and all of these:

Hyphenation disabled, asinglelongwordwiderthanthetextframe. Or, all spaces are nonbreaking.

A table with a single row higher than a text frame.

An inline image taller than the text frame.

Text with a left or right indent larger than the width of the frame.

An Indent To Here at the far right of a line.

"Keep with previous/next" applied to multiple long paragraphs.

"Keep all lines together" applied to a single very long paragraph.

Footnote shenanigans: multiple references to some very long footnotes – in a single line of text. (Yeah.)

My tactic is to add a frame and then immediately check if it has any contents.

[Manan Joshi]

Thanks for adding to the list, i will surely keep an eye on these from now on.

-Manan