Smart Text Reflow with Conditional Text

[sPretzel]

In the case where there is conditional text, that once turned on, leaves blank pages, Smart Text Reflow can be set in Preferences so that it deletes the blank pages automatically. If the condition is then changed and text is made visible again within the story because of the condition change (no typing), then there is overset text but no pages are automatically added. To add pages, I must click on the out port of the threaded text frame to load the text place icon and then click somewhere on the page to place the text. Only at that point does InDesign add pages and the hidden text is restored. I thought this would be done automatically as soon as I set the conditional text to show, without my needing to do anything else. Am I doing something wrong or is this how it is supposed to work?

This is for CS4.

Thanks.

[Barb Binder · Accepted solution]

I don't think any of us have CS4 (v6) installed anymore so answering on CC 2020 (v15). If you aren't using primary frames, try deselecting Limit to Primary Text Frames.

With those settings, I get this result:

 

~Barb

[sPretzel]

Hi Barb,

Thanks for your prompt reply and animation.

What CC 2020 calls Limit to Primary Text Frames is probably what CS4 called Limit to Master Text Frames. That's unselected and every other preference is like yours.

To summarise what I tried to explain in my original post, everything works as expected up to the point where I make the hidden conditional text visible again. At that point, if I stop, then InDesign does not add the deleted pages back. I must load the overset text from the out port of the threaded frame into the cursor and click somewhere on the page. Only at that point does InDesign add the pages back and the text reflows correctly (it looks correct anyway).

By the way, the text frame I am doing this with is not part of a master page.

I didn't quite understand your animation because the condition hides the text and ID deletes one page (even though there seem to be three blank pages), but the text becomes visible again before your change the condition again.

[Barb Binder]

I didn't quite understand your animation because the condition hides the text and ID deletes one page (even though there seem to be three blank pages), but the text becomes visible again before your change the condition again.

I understand the confusion—InDesign has a significant delay displaying text on the pages after adding or removing the page. It's a 5 page doc that drops to 4 automatically and then returns to 5 as I show and hide the condition. If you watch the Pages panel, as the pages come and go they are initially blank, but InDesign does display the text on the page thumbnails after about a 5–7 second delay. 

Anyway, if your settings match mine, then I'm not sure what is going on. I can't install CS4 (actually, I somewhat amazed you are still running it successfully), so I can't troubleshoot any further. It may be that these features have been upgraded over the years to work better than when CS4 was released in 2008. I wish you the best.

~Barb

Likes

;

[Barb Binder]

I didn't quite understand your animation because the condition hides the text and ID deletes one page (even though there seem to be three blank pages), but the text becomes visible again before your change the condition again.

I understand the confusion—InDesign has a significant delay displaying text on the pages after adding or removing the page. It's a 5 page doc that drops to 4 automatically and then returns to 5 as I show and hide the condition. If you watch the Pages panel, as the pages come and go they are initially blank, but InDesign does display the text on the page thumbnails after about a 5–7 second delay. 

Anyway, if your settings match mine, then I'm not sure what is going on. I can't install CS4 (actually, I somewhat amazed you are still running it successfully), so I can't troubleshoot any further. It may be that these features have been upgraded over the years to work better than when CS4 was released in 2008. I wish you the best.

~Barb

[sPretzel]

Thanks Barb. Perhaps it's a quirk in CS4 then. At least, I know I am not doing anything wrong.