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Auto-size: Grow text frame width with max-width set?

Engaged ,
Dec 04, 2016 Dec 04, 2016

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Hello,

My setup:

I am using a text frame auto-size for a photo caption.

The photos and captions are created via a data merge.

The caption is anchored to the bottom of the page so it grows vertically upwards depending on length of caption text.

Some captions are a few words long, while other captions are multiple lines long.

The caption text frame, currently, is set to a defined width; when the caption text meets that width, it wraps, and the text frame grows upwards.

My desired goal:

I would like to have a text frame that grows, width-wise, with the first line of the caption; if/when the caption text is long enough to wrap, I would like the text box to stop growing and allow for the text to wrap. Essentially, I would like all of the features I have specified from above, but I would like the text frame to shrink-wrap the text until it meets a specified maximum width, and then have it grow vertically from bottom (with text wrap, depending on text length).

My questions:

From what I can tell, I don't think what I want is possible without some sort of manual intervention. I would like to avoid doing manual work as there are many pages.

With that said, am I overlooking a feature?

If this functionality is not "built in", can anyone recommend a plugin or script that could help me accomplish this goal?

Thanks so much for reading my question.

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correct answers 1 Correct answer

LEGEND , Dec 04, 2016 Dec 04, 2016

Capture d’écran 2016-12-05 à 00.12.27.png

Capture d’écran 2016-12-05 à 00.13.54.png

Capture d’écran 2016-12-05 à 00.14.12.png

Take another look in the same panel!  😉

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Community Expert ,
Dec 04, 2016 Dec 04, 2016

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When InDesign features don't match your expectations, often features can be accomplished with scripting.

You can ask in the InDesign Scripting forum:

InDesign Scripting

If you don't do scripting, there may be pre-existing scripts available, or you could pay someone to develop a script.

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Engaged ,
Dec 04, 2016 Dec 04, 2016

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Steve Werner wrote:

When InDesign features don't match your expectations, often features can be accomplished with scripting.

You can ask in the InDesign Scripting forum:

InDesign Scripting

If you don't do scripting, there may be pre-existing scripts available, or you could pay someone to develop a script.

Good suggestion! I actually do a bit of Illustrator scripting (when I have the need/spare time), so I don't mind tackling this in code. Just was hoping to find a ready-made solution. Thanks for tip though, I really appreciate it!

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LEGEND ,
Dec 04, 2016 Dec 04, 2016

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Bad suggestion! 

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LEGEND ,
Dec 04, 2016 Dec 04, 2016

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Screenshots, please! … Just to see what you mean!

(^/)

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Engaged ,
Dec 04, 2016 Dec 04, 2016

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Obi-wan Kenobi wrote:

Screenshots, please! … Just to see what you mean!

(^/)

Doi! Good point!!!!

Here's a single page, with caption at bottom and only a few words (I had to set the Auto-Size to ignore line breaks for this to auto shrink and center/align to bottom of page):

Screenshot 2016-12-04 14.48.22.png

And here's what I would like to see when/if the caption grows (keep in mind, the image and caption are inserted via data merge):

Screenshot 2016-12-04 14.49.11.png

Basically, it would be awesome to have a "max width" option for the auto-size feature of Indesign, because the align/anchor options are totally useful to avoiding overset text in a data merge situation:

Screenshot 2016-12-04 14.55.22.png

Thanks so much for your help (Obi and Steve)! I really appreciate it!

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LEGEND ,
Dec 04, 2016 Dec 04, 2016

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Think different!  😉

(^/)

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LEGEND ,
Dec 04, 2016 Dec 04, 2016

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Capture d’écran 2016-12-05 à 00.12.27.png

Capture d’écran 2016-12-05 à 00.13.54.png

Capture d’écran 2016-12-05 à 00.14.12.png

Take another look in the same panel!  😉

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Engaged ,
Dec 04, 2016 Dec 04, 2016

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Obi-wan Kenobi wrote:

Take another look in the same panel! 😉

Whoa! No way! Interesting.... Looking now!

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Engaged ,
Dec 04, 2016 Dec 04, 2016

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mickyhulse wrote:

Obi-wan Kenobi wrote:

Take another look in the same panel! 😉

Whoa! No way! Interesting.... Looking now!

Awesome!!!!!

Screenshot 2016-12-04 18.01.48.png

Screenshot 2016-12-04 18.01.53.png

Woot!

I totally overlooked the "Flexible Width" option of columns.

Yes!!!!! Love it.

Thanks a bunch Obi! You are truly an Indesign Jedi Master.

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LEGEND ,
Dec 05, 2016 Dec 05, 2016

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LATEST

MTFBWY!

(^/) 

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