When you place anything into Adobe InDesign (text, graphic or table) a commonly overlooked feature is import options. It is located in the lower left hand corner of the place dialog box.
If you choose to click import options you will be greeted with a plethora of information regarding your file that will help choose how the file will be imported (content and/or formatting).
Microsoft Word Import Options
Word’s options let you choose the formatting options of text, importing of inline graphics/tables or even map Word styles to InDesign styles.
*If you want to remove Word’s formatting, but keep local changes (like bold and italic) don’t forget to click “preserve local overrides”
Microsoft Excel Import Option
Excel’s import lets you select the sheet you would like to import and/or formatting options.
Image Import Options
Placing a layered .psd file with import options allows you to choose the visibility of individual layers or even pick from a Photoshop layer comp. Be sure to save .psd files with maximum compatibility to ensure proper importing into InDesign. Other options include activating the clipping path and changing the color profile.
PDF/AI/INDD Import Options
If you are placing a PDF, Adobe Illustrator file (.ai) or even another InDesign file (.indd) you can choose which page range, transparent background, layer and cropping options.
The Shift Key
The problem with choosing the import options check-box is that it remembers that you have checked it and it will remain checked for every subsequent item that you place. A workaround this problem is to hold down the Shift Key as you place the file(s) that you would like to see with the import options box. The shift key will allow those particular items to bring up their respective import options, but the check-box will remain off in the subsequent item placements.
– Displays artwork in a standard window with all visible grids and guides showing, non-printing objects showing, and a white pasteboard.
- Displays artwork as if it were output, with all non-printing elements suppressed (grids, guides, non-printing objects), and the pasteboard set to the preview background color defined in Preferences.
– Displays artwork as if it were output, with all non-printing elements suppressed (grids, guides, non-printing objects), the pasteboard set to the preview background color defined in Preferences, and any printing elements within the document’s bleed area (defined in Document Setup) showing.
– Displays artwork as if it were output, with all non-printing elements suppressed (grids, guides, non-printing objects), the pasteboard set to the preview background color defined in Preferences, and any printing elements within the document’s slug area (defined in Document Setup) showing.
in the Application bar, and select Standard Screen Mode from the pop-up menu.
displays artwork in a standard window, with a menu bar at the top and scroll bars on the sides.
displays artwork in a full-screen window, with a menu bar at the top and scroll bars.
displays artwork in a full-screen window, with no title bar or menu bar.
Adobe InDesign has a bunch of really useful scripts that many users may not be aware of. While scripting can sound scary, you only need to double-click your mouse to run a script.
2. Opt (ALT on PC) double-click to edit the original image in Photoshop.
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For those of you unable or unaware (shame on you) of last night’s InDesign User Group Meeting with Noha Edell from Adobe here are some highlights and some helpful links. The topic was long document formatting and features of Adobe InDesign.
InDesign tips and Tricks:
I just wanted to announce that I am now a contributor on InDesignsecrets.com
Here is a listing of InDesign CS4’s new features. This is not necessarily an exhaustive list, but it will definitely point out the newest features
A client contacted me yesterday with a problem they were having with masterpages. After talking to them on the phone to make sure they were doing everything correctly, they sent me the files so I could take a look.
This year C2 is hosting the new 
Tracking is the process of changing the space between a selection of letters. In QuarkXPress people are used to tightening up the space by changing the amount to -1, -2, or -3 and most people are comfortable with these amounts. If you have been using Quark for awhile and then jump into InDesign, Illustrator or Photoshop and try to use tracking, you may run into some issues. Quark and Adobe measure tracking differently.
A commonly overlooked function of Adobe InDesign and QuarkXPress is paste in place. If you copy something to the clipboard, and then go to another page and just paste, it will go in the center of the screen. But, if you choose paste in place from the edit menu it will be pasted in the same XY coordinates that you copied it from.
