Prioritize rows over columns in a list

[danielmills]

I'm working on a document in Japan with test questions and answers. InDesign seems to want to do split column lists like this:

1 3

2 4

In Japan, people expect lists of answers on tests to look like this:

1 2

3 4

Is there a way to set that up using paragraph styles? I'd like to keep the text very simple and not have to move a bunch of tables around.

[Scott Falkner]

I don’t see what your quresion is. When you convert text to a table the text stays in the order you have it. If you want the text in a certain order, put it that way. Can you better explain what InDesign is not doing that you want it to, or is doing that you do not?

[vladan saveljic]

You can transpose rows and columns in word or in excel and then import the tables in indesign.

For indesign you need a script

Take a look here

http://funwithstuff.com/blog/?p=254

[FRIdNGE]

Just For Comments!

Some months ago, a client wanted to play the same game … but not sure it was about Japanese!

As all know, I will always prefer simplicity, so 1 click just selecting text to be transposed (even if some supplementary code lines could play the game on all the doc always with just 1 click!).  😉

(^/)  The Jedi

[danielmills]

Thanks for the replies all. I realize that I wasn't clear enough about what I needed. My problem isn't with the text. As mentioned by Scott, that is determined by the order I enter it. My problem is with the way that InDesign does the numbering.

By default:

1 (Answer 1) 3 (Answer 3)

2 (Answer 2) 4 (Answer 4)

What I need:

1 (Answer 1) 2 (Answer 2)

3 (Answer 3) 4 (Answer 4)

I realize that if I make it into a table, it defaults to rows and then columns, but I want my text to look like this in the story editor:

Question

Answer 1

Answer 2

Answer 3

Answer 4

In order to do that, as far as I know, I need to use paragraph styles. Is there a way to adjust the numbering to do the rows before the columns?