Why does InDesign ignore my custom baseline grid?

[joo_yoonc11057475]

I've got a block of text in a text box and have set and enabled a custom baseline grid for that textbox, but InDesign simply ignores the custom baseline grid in favor of whatever leading value I have specified for the text in the Character panel. How do I get the custom baseline grid to be applied? Thank you.

[Mike Witherell · Accepted solution]

Make sure the Paragraph style for that text has the baseline grid switch turned on.

Baseline grid requires three steps:

1. Define baseline grid in preferences or within the textframe options

2. Choose whether or not to view the baseline grid under the View menu

3. Turn on Indents and Spacing > Align to Grid: All Lines -- in the Paragraph style that controls the text (you ARE using styles, aren't you?)

[Frans v.d. Geest]

My guess is Bob that item 3 on your list is not applied by OP  😉

[joo_yoonc11057475]

... aaaaaand we have a winner! Thank you Michael (and Frans), I did not turn on number 3.

I'm feeling rather foolish now, haha. Thank you.

[Mike Diehl]

I'd like to think this is a joke -- that the only way to force type to align to a baseline grid is to first create styles, and define the baseline grid option within that style, then force all the text into various styles. I suspect it is not a joke, as I've banged my head against the wall numerous times to try to make this happen AS IT SHOULD. Holy cow.

I'm using CC 2015, due to my need to conform to a client's software spec, but maybe you've implemented this correctly in later versions?

[Laubender]

Hi Mike Diehl,

if you want to force text to the baseline grid you can do this also from:

[1] the Paragraph panel

[2] the Control panel

[3] when in InDesign CC 2019 or above: the Properties panel 

Watch out for this set of controls:

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )