I'm running into a bullet alignment issue when using wrap text around an object. The bullets that is impacted by the picture do not align correctly. They no longer line up along the left hand side and they tab in much more than usual. I've attached a screenshot:
The bullet settings are as follows:
I have a feeling that this issue could be solved with a new character style or paragraph style, but I'm not sure how to go about it. (I have been using InDesign for 5 years, but have not ever had to create character or paragraph styles.)
Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you!
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Replies
Hi Andrea,
forcing text to move is doable by using objects with text wrap applied.
If you still like to use a tab between the bullet and the text, go to the tabulator section of the paragraph style, set a tab at position 0.25 and repeat the tab.
Repeated tabs in the paragraph style.
The tab at position 2.5 inch is selected (German "Zoll" is "Inch")
Regards,
Uwe
Hi,
You can use an automatic bullet with a tab! 
(^/)
Hi Uwe,
We can do more simple! … just 1 click! 
[code later]
My last gift of the year! …
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
See: Bullets Wrapping Layout! … - YouTube
(^/)
Hi Luc,
Not so simplistic! … Read my code! 
(^/)
Hi Jane,
The deal here is simple:
I'm still working on a totally relevant script and I think it's possible to make it work in all situations!
The first point is to use, as Chad said [post#1], a "bullet" para style without tabs.
So, I used a char style [playing with the "auto-numbering" bullet options] using an approach to simulate a 5mm-tab.
It's the only real work the op will need to do!
The 2nd point, not actually done by the script first version, is to let the script create itself the "In-Visible" object style (the op won't need to do it).
So, after that, the script could "evaluate" all cases:
In my video and script actual version, I focussed on this situation where the image is "enveloped" by text.
It's the most spectacular and complex situation to fix.
in this case, the script reveals 3 situations to be treated:
• The "first" para
The script makes calculations to insert an "In-Visible" anchored frame at the beginning of the para using a right-wrapping to move a part of the text. the script calculates the "height" of the text part for that and where it needs to move it to make the deal!
An accessory situation not taken yet in account by the script is when the text, moving, adds a supplementary line!
So, after treating this first situation, the script needs to evaluate again the lines number and increase the frame height! [doable].
The script will need to evaluate too if this first para "envelops" the image! If not, it will integrate it into the following situation …
• The "intermediate" paras
Here, I don't use an anchoring because not necessary.
As Luc said [post#12], the script inserts an "indent-to-here" special char. Totally relevant here!
• The "last" para
Here too, the script will need to know if the text "envelops" the image [almost similar treatment than for "first" para situation] or if we are in the same situation as "intermediate" paras.
The script needs to re-evaluate each situation after treatment because, adding or loosing lines, it could modify itself its working context!!
It was very funny to imagine/write this first version!
Maybe some other [really more experienced and "crazy"] scripters could help to finish it and give to all a script that fixes this annoying question that makes us lose a lot of energy when we meet it!
Last comment:
Give a basic solution that only works in a specific way when we could elaborate a more global is, imho, not serious!
I don't think like this and as Barb Binder recently wrote:
"[I'm] not one to let feature limitations stop [me]"!
(^/) HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!
Uwe,
Surely another way!
I've worked 10 years with FrameMaker! I really don't like floating objets placed on pages and truly prefer anchorings.
… but very interested by the idea of a "live" synchronization!
About our question, these situations aren't on each page of a document! …
Just an annoying behavior not treated by default by ID!
(^/)
In case it's still helpful to someone. I used to have the same issue in the "Before" screenshot below. Notice the unsightly gap and how the second line is not aligning in the bullet item.
Then I applied a combination of suggestions in this thread and the results are in the "After" screenshot below.
To get this result, I inserted an Em Space at the beginning of the first line of the bullet (as suggested). Then, in the second line, I inserted an "Indent to Here" character (using the tabs rulers window (Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + T), I had to manually adjust the alignment of the second line to match the first line indent). Finally, I created a paragraph style to use whenever a bullet falls around a wrap-around object. Try it and see if it works for you.
r5dsign: You're lucky that you didn't have a third line on your bullet curving around that water image. Your workaround would have failed then. Plus, apparently you don't mind your bullets being flush left. Today I'm trying to lay out a magazine article with LOTS of bullets and a design that uses photos canted at angles. No matter where I choose to put the photos, I can't seem to avoid having some to the left of bullets, resulting in this kind of thing (normal behavior on left, wrapped situation on right):
Two things are lacking: (1) the indent before the bullet (3mm in my case), and (2) the additional indent of non-first lines (3mm plus the size of an en-space, however much that is). "Indent to Here" would only solve #2, and only if the photo edge was straight vertical. It seems crazy to have to add a network of invisible rectangles (three rectangles just for these two bullets alone), but I guess that's what I have to do.
Why isn't there simply a checkbox in either the Text Wrap dialog or Bullets/Numbers dialog to tell InDesign to treat the edge of the wrap area as if it was the left edge of the text frame?
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