InDesign workflow question for longer document (book)

[M***@adobeforums.com]

I'm new to Indesign and have read through the help topics and searched around but I can't seem to find an exact answer... I may be phrasing my question wrong.

I have a complete book in basic text (txt). What is the desired (or best in your experience) way to start work. In my mind I want to import the text as a whole, populate all pages, then I want to come back and format chapters and add images.

Everything I try doesn't support my idea (I am new to this software and I may just be approaching this incorrectly.) I also come from a different background and a different tool set so any advise would help.

[unknown]

Sounds like you are doing it the right way. What is going wrong in your
opinion?

This is what I do. Place the text. Format the text with styles. Place
graphics/images.

[j***@adobeforums.com]

To elaborate on Simon's answer, this is my workflow for straight-on books:

- Make a basic set of Master pages. You will need at least a single set with page numbering and, optionally, headings.

- Load all text. You will get lots and lots of pages, because it's still unformatted, but that's okay.

- I usually cut off front matter and put each item on a page of its own, so tiddling with it won't cause reflow of the entire document. You will need at least a title page and a reverse; "proper" books have a minor title page, a (c) page, a proper title page, and a blank. (Grab any one from your bookshelf that you like and copy its layout for these.) My first "true" flowing page is the first page of chapter 1. Remember to insert 2 pages (or perhaps more -- an even number) for a table of contents.

- Go through the main text from first to last page, applying basic formatting, paragraphs, subtitles, etc. -- the plain text works. Make and use paragraph styles for each unique format -- do not (or at least as possible!) apply local formatting. Use character styles for italics and bold in plain text.

- Go through the main text again, applying formatting to each new chapter. Insert page breaks (Odd Page Breaks for right-hand starting chapters) where appropriate. If you use Odd Page Breaks, insert them before every new chapter (or use the "Break On Odd Page" Keep Option) -- i.e., not just when you seem to need one. It will change if you reformat or add picchers.

- Go through your text again, this time adding all pictures, tables, etc. You can do the previous steps in any order you like, but this one must be done from front to back. If you have right hand chapters and the one before it has no text, make that one completely blank (i.e., remove header & page numbering).

- Tidy up the front matter and generate the contents.

- Remove the extra blanks at the end. These were the overspill from the plain text import.

- Sit back 'cause you're done!

As you see, your own ideas weren't bad at all.

[K***@adobeforums.com]

Post by M***@adobeforums.com
Everything I try doesn't support my idea

In what way does what specific feature not work?

[M***@adobeforums.com]

What I'm finding when I'm trying to insert the bulk of the text I'm having the problem. Again I feel like a bit of a smuck I'm sure I'm doing something wrong at this point.

I open up a text box and insert the text, Now I get the dialog with the red x box showing that there is more text. How do I flow that text to all the pages. Instead us just using a single box on a page.

Other that that I have no problem (in a single page scenario) with a text box/field and editing my points to adjust for images.

Thanks for the help

[K***@adobeforums.com]

After you get your text in a text box on the first page of a one-page
document, get out the Pages palette and drag down a master to create a
new page after the first one. Now go to that red x box and click on it
to get a loaded cursor. Bring the loaded cursor to the top left margin
corner on the new empty page. Shift click to autoflow new pages with new
text boxes to the end of the document.

Are you using File > Place to "insert text"? It probably doesn't much
matter with a .txt file, but with anything with any formatting, you'll
get all kinds of choices if you Place text instead of pasting it.

[P***@adobeforums.com]

Hold the shift key when you click the mouse to autoflow all the text. ID will create new text frames and pages based on the current master as necessary to hold everything. Holding the alt key instead will leave you with a loaded text cursor you can use to place text manually, frame by frame.

Peter

[A***@adobeforums.com]

"ID will create new text frames and pages based on the current master as
necessary to hold everything."

In CS2 (not sure about CS3), this can be buggy. Specifically, if a chapter
title style is defined to begin on a right-hand page, and the page before it
happens to be blank, autoflow will break.

[K***@adobeforums.com]

Post by A***@adobeforums.com
In CS2 (not sure about CS3), this can be buggy.

This is unchanged for CS3.

[A***@adobeforums.com]

There's nothing like tradition.

[M***@adobeforums.com]

Thanks for all of the input. The auto flow is what I was looking for.

So far a A++ to the adobe forum.

[j***@adobeforums.com]

Any suggestions for a good workflow when the work needs to be split up among multiple writers? Perhaps chapter by chapter with one person in charge of creating the book, toc, and index?

[K***@adobeforums.com]

Post by j***@adobeforums.com
Any suggestions for a good workflow when the work needs to be split up among multiple writers?

Word. Everybody already has it, everybody already knows it. And when
they're all done writing, one person brings it all into Indesign,
exports PDF, and inputs any necessary corrections.

[unknown]

Feh! <g>

InCopy's where it's at.

Bob