Using same document in multiple books

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    • #67681

      Hey all – so we want to use books for our project portfolios. Basically, we have a catalog of individual project sheets, and then want to create books using them. Only problem – some projects will appear in more than one book if they qualify for more than one category (i.e. “housing” but also “high-rise”). All I can find on the subject is that it is “not recommended” but if we can get around it we would eliminate having to replicate files and update essentially the same document more than once. All of these books would have the same styles and everything, so the only thing in theory that would change is the page number and footer title from book to book. It would be very rare if ever that two books that share the same document would even be open at the same time. Does anyone have knowledge on this? Thanks!!

    • #67685
      David Blatner
      Keymaster

      How long are the project sheets? One good option is to use File > Place to place the pages of one InDesign file into another. They act like graphics wherever you place them, but you can place the same INDD file into many different other INDD files.

    • #67692

      Woah I did not know that place tip! Do they update then just like a graphic would? The majority of the project sheets are typically only 1 page, although some might be 2-4.

    • #67693

      If you had a table of contents in the document and placed InDesign files – would it still read the parapraph styles from the placed doc?

    • #67703
      David Blatner
      Keymaster

      Yes, placed INDD files update just like graphics — they act almost exactly like placing a PDF file. But even better: You can option-double-click one (or Edit > Edit Original) and it will open the original INDD file so you can edit it. Then save and close, and it updates immediately.

      As for TOC: No… that would be cool. But no. You would have to fake that with something like this trick: https://creativepro.com/creating-and-advertiser-index-or-other-difficult-toc.php

    • #67705

      Okay gotcha, this is really helpful. Thanks so much!

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