Here's the original. aside from the obvious font replacement issue, i think you'll see what's missing...

http://i52.tinypic.com/j9acsx.jpg

If I didn't have to do something like that, believe me, I wouldn't.

My sample file is 1 entry. The last book I did of this format, there were 300+ entries, and 4 different "template sizes" between those 300 entries. Some of the entries need this box, and some don't, and that isn't necessarily determined until after the initial build-out of the layout.

Keep in mind, also that these are InCopy stories in the real version, and that 3-5 people are making edits to them, none of whom can be trusted with a copy of InDesign.

If I did as you suggest, I would end up with another 100+ story files, linked INSIDE existing story files (is that even possible?) and I would have to go back and forth with editors becuse the text boxes cannot be modified in InCopy.

The way it is now, I can do a GREP find/replace to add the anchored object at a "default" size that fits most of the entries, and then after the editors are done, I can go back and resize the boxes that need resizing to make it look like the text is inside the box, instead of under it.

I tried free-floating boxes behind the frames last month, and the amount of extra work required for me was not pleasant, to say the least.

None of that explains why visible, printable objects are disappearing when exported to PDF.

Can you post that script? It might make my life easier until I figure out what's wrong.

Hi there, i have the same problem with this opacity problem~

it's like sometimes when u set some colour shape not in 100% opacity

and when u export to PDF, IT DISAPPEAR!!!

I don't acutlly have the problem fixed~

but i have solution~

1 Step: set your tartget to 100% opacity first  (it's best u have more than 2 targets)

2 Step: Group the target with something (best to group the targets together)

3 Step: change the opacity of the group

4 Setp: export it see how it works~

hope this can fix your problem

Having the same problem - Indesign CS5 on mac OS 10.7.2. Have tried exporting as idml and re-opening, have tried with overprint preview turned on in Acrobat. Have tried cutting and pasting box with text into a new document and it still happens with the new document?! And yet when I draw a new box and apply same opacity settings it is fine?! Unfortunately I have hundreds of these boxes throughout my document.

But I think exporting as IDML file might have something to do with it as I can retrace my steps: Did the original file on CS5; opened it on my home mac in CS5.5 and did some changes, exported as IDML to re-open on my work computer with CS5; did some more changes at work and this is when the problem happened. It's something about exporting as IDML and re-opening in CS5 as I can go back to my files on my home computer (with CS5.5), export as pdf and all the boxes are there in both the indesign AND the IDML file.

PDF X/3 is the standard required by my printers. X/3 does not handle transparency in-RIP as opposed to X/4. I suspect a PDF error, as the file displays correctly but does not print correctly. We have found that one systematic transparency fail with CS5 was using spot colours the way we use them. The transparency is created by a Photoshop image, not a pure InDesign transparency.

Images: Snapshot from the PDF screen view and the print result of the PDF.

Using my Fiery or our built-in printer RIPs produces the same artefact as my professional external print service providers. Even the tinny print preview  in Acrobat shows the error.

(Message was edited by: Lucien Schilling)

And the second image (...you are not allowed to edit this message... )

Yes, and PDF X/3 is a standard widely adopted by the RIP manufacturer/print service providers. The transparency effect is flattened before or during the PDF build.