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Daniel Gtz Calculating status...

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I need some help formatting some text

Sep 5, 2012 12:18 AM

Tags: #indesign #format #formatting #epub #italics #parenthesis

I'm trying to convert a theater script to EPUB. The original file I received was a pdf. I already placed all the text in my InDesign document, but among all the text, there are some phrases between parenthesis that need to be in italics.

Is there a way that I could instruct InDesign to change all characters between parenthesis to italics? Or will I need to manually identify and change them?

Thanks for you help!

497 Views 4 Replies Latest reply: Daniel Gtz, Sep 5, 2012 8:22 AM

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1. [Jongware],

Sep 5, 2012 1:42 AM in reply to Daniel Gtz

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http://indesignsecrets.com/findbetween-a-useful-grep-string.php

This article describes a GREP search string, but you can also use it in a GREP style.

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2. Scott Falkner,

Sep 5, 2012 1:52 AM in reply to Daniel Gtz

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You want to use a GREP Style. First create a Character Style that only specifies Italic as the font style, nothing else. Then use the following for your GREP Style either in the GREP Styles dialogue avaiable from the Paragraph panel or as part of a Paragraph Style…
The cryptic expression is (?<=\().*?(?=\))
You can copy and paste that.

Result…

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3. Daniel Gtz,

Sep 5, 2012 8:21 AM in reply to Scott Falkner

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Wow, never heard about this. Thank you so much.
I'll try it when I get back home from work and post back with results.

Now for instance, say I would like to select something between other symbols beside parenthesis, which characters should I change in the string? Tho ones in the outside or the inside? For example, if I want to select something between quotes, would the string be "?<=\().*?(?=\)" or (?<=\().*?"?=\")?

Or am I just making stuff up and it not possible?

Again, thanks for all the help.

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4. Daniel Gtz,

Sep 5, 2012 8:22 AM in reply to [Jongware]

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Thank you, Jongware! That was a good read.
I'll try this back at home and post back with results.

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