How to format text insets that break across pages?

[valerie_a_b]

I'm redoing an older book that has a lot of inset boxes. Here's a screenshot of a sample page in the original layout:

The original designer's rather clunky solution was separate text frames plus separate shades backgrounds. I'd love to find a solution that would allow me to keep one continuous text flow: The inset box anchored in the main text frame and flowing along with the rest of the text. Trouble is, I can't make either a single-cell table (which would otherwise be ideal) or a text frame anchored in the main text work across page breaks.

I'd like it to look more like this, but I've had to arange things here manually:

Hope the question makes sense!

~Valerie

[Derek Cross · Accepted solution]

Have a look at the newish InDesign facility Paragraph Shading.

This excellent video from Jeff Witchel shows you the various methods of adding shading including Paragraph Shading.

https://vimeo.com/135024579

[valerie_a_b]

And the heavens opened and the rays of light shone forth and the angel choirs sang.

Thanks, Derek! There's always some feature I just haven't noticed yet!

[valerie_a_b]

Any idea if this feature will export to EPUB?

[Derek Cross]

Sadly the feature does not export successfully to a Reflowable ePub.

[valerie_a_b]

Alas! But thanks!