Adobe InDesign - Using file as a 'template'

@GCarlD

@GCarlD

Well-Known Member
Hi all,

I have an InDesign question, in the hopes of speeding up my impending workflow.

Here is the question/scenario: I designed a book in InDesign (text and illustrations) and would like to create another book based on parts of its layout. Rather than me starting the second book from scratch and copy & pasting from the first book like a novice, is there a way I can somewhat use the first book as a template for the second?

Could the answer be to create paragraph, and if needed, character styles from the first book (which in hindsight I should of done from the beginning) and somehow 'import' these styles into the new second book? And what about the illustrations? Would this be a matter of copy, pasting in place and replacing with the new illustrations?

Basically I would like to go about this in the most efficient way, rather than duplicating the first book file and editing it into a new book; deleting, copy, pasting etc... Which would be long and tedious.

Bare in mind, while I would like to use the same layout of some of the pages, there are other pages that will require a different layout.

Thanks for your help and suggestions.

:)
 
If you didn't use Styles, you should have - it makes the process so much quicker towards the end of a project (although slow to setup - it means the next project goes even smoother).

Run Both Documents Side by Side
You can run both documents side by side - or one open another document and drag and drop.

Move Pages from One Document to Another
http://indesignsecrets.com/watch_listen/how-to-move-pages-from-one-document-to-another

Remove Images Leave Frames
There's a script for removing all images but leaving the image frame

http://indesignsecrets.com/delete-images-from-multiple-indesign-graphic-frames-quickly.php

Remove text leave frames
For the text just search for using GREP

Find
.

Replace with
<leave blank>

That will remove all the text and leave the text frames.

There's a plugin and it's free
http://www.automatication.com/index.php?id=13
http://indesignsecrets.com/tag/layout-zone

You can use Snippets - which are very handy -
http://indesignsecrets.com/the-joy-of-snippets.php
http://indesignsecrets.com/tip-week-placing-snippets.php


If there's anything specific you need please let me know.
 
I know I should of used Styles as mentioned :( I was impatient and too keen to kick on... but it's not too late right? I can still create Styles from the first book using the text / paragraph styles in place. Can I then import them into a new document for the second book? Or is it a question of re-making these styles for the new second book document? In which case creating Styles from the first book would be redundant.
 
hankscorpio said:
Remove text leave frames
For the text just search for using GREP

Find
.

Replace with
<leave blank>

That will remove all the text and leave the text frames.
Click to expand...

O.M.G. Holy shit that is awesome! Thanks!

I have really been getting into editorial design recently, I haven't had the chance to use ID as often as I would like due to the type of work I tend to get, so things like this that speed up workflow amazes me. I am thinking of really focusing on editorial design, as I have discovered a newly formed passion for it, but I'm not sure if that is the right direction to hone in on in this day and age?
 
Yes you can use the paragraph and character style palette. There's a menu top right. You can load styles from there. Select the doc that contains the styles you want to import
 
You can easily speedup your InDesign file, simply apply below given tips and tricks & make your InDesign File Fast:
  • Set InDesign’s Display Performance to Typical
  • Turn off Live Drawing
  • Minimize Live Preflight
  • Turn Off Page Thumbnails
  • Turn Off Hyperlink Verification
  • Turn Off Save Preview Images
 
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