How do you apply more than one paragraph style within one text box?

[PerezDavid1990]

For example, I have two different sections I want to identify within a text box (header, page number, desription). However, when I highlight the page number for example and apply a paragraph style, it applies to the WHOLE text box. Why is this happening? Please help, thank you.

[John T Smith]

The Lounge Forum is not for technical help, please provide the name of the program you are using so your message may be moved to the correct program forum... A program would be Photoshop or Dreamweaver or Muse or Premiere Pro or ???

[PerezDavid1990]

This is for Adobe Indesign, thank you

[John T Smith]

Here is the list of all Adobe forums... https://forums.adobe.com/welcome

[amaarora · Accepted solution]

Hi,

To apply different paragraph styles within a same text frame you need to have different paragraphs first(by pressing Enter?) which means your header, page number, desription in the text frame should be in different paragraphs.

Applying a different paragraph style should then be easy.

1. Click in a paragraph, or select all or part of the paragraphs to which you want to apply the style.

2. Do one of the following:

     a. Click the paragraph style name in the Paragraph Styles panel.

     b. Select the paragraph style name from the menu in the Control panel.

     c. Press the keyboard shortcut you assigned to the style. (Make sure that Num Lock is on.)

3. If any unwanted formatting remains in the text, choose Clear Overrides from the Paragraph Styles panel.

Otherwise if you do not wish to create separate paragraphs but still apply different styles, try creating character styles instead.

You can read more about styles here Apply paragraph and character text styles in Adobe InDesign

-Aman

[PerezDavid1990]

Is there a way to do it without double returns?

[Scott Falkner]

Is there a way to do it without double returns?

Yes, you can use a single return between paragraphs. In fact, there should be no reason to use more than one return between paragraphs. If you want extra space use Space Before or Space After in the Paragraph panel.

[PerezDavid1990]

Single return is when you hit SHIFT ENTER to make it appear on a new line right? Even when I do that what you suggest doesn't work, only when I hit enter and separate it into a different paragraph.

[rob day]

Shift enter or Shift return creates a forced line break and not a new paragraph–they are distinctly different and have different hidden characters. To apply a style to string of text within a paragraph create and apply a Character Style

[Michael Riordan]

No, a shift return is a line break, not a paragraph break. Remove those and replace them with a simple hard return. (using shift return will cause indesign to think your text is one giant paragraph) If you want space between the end of one paragraph and the beginning of the next, avoid adding a second return and instead use either "space before" or "space after" in the paragraph controls.

[Jongware]

i get the impression the OP is currently getting "double returns" just because he -- unwittingly! -- has some Space Before or Space After in his paragraph setup. That explains the comment "... possible without double returns?"

To get no extra space between paragraphs, all you need to do is make sure there is 0 Space Before and Space After in all of your paragraphs.

These settings are extremely basic, compared with the wealth of hugely more advanced options that InDesign allows. I'm guessing the best advice is to take a good introductory book and/or class; search for Lynda.com's classes on InDesign, or Sandee Cohen's Quickstart to InDesign [your version here].

[Michael Riordan]

I agree, training would help you a lot. The books and videos that Jongware suggest are good second tier options but for a good strong base I recommend an in-person instructor led class. (full disclosure: I'm an Adobe Certified Instructor). Find an ACI near you that is offering InDesign classes and within a day or 2 you will have a really strong base of skills which the books and videos can then further support and develop. Here's Adobe's training partner page if you're interested:

Adobe Partner Finder | Adobe Training & Certification