9 Replies Latest reply: May 5, 2008 9:06 AM by M Blackburn RSS

    Automatic Chapter Numbers in a Single Document?

    Tomabcd
      Hi -

      Just trying to figure out if there is a way to get auto-numbered chapters in a single document. I've read you can do chapters (autonumbered?) with an InDesign "Book" with separate files, but can you do it in one document?

      All I've found so far is section markers, which are manual, and will get completely messed up if you reorder things.

      Thanks!

      Tom
        • 1. Re: Automatic Chapter Numbers in a Single Document?
          Community Member
          Not that I know of - you can define only one chapter number for a file. Depending on what exactly you want to do, you could maybe use a numbered style. Why can't you use the book feature?
          • 2. Re: Automatic Chapter Numbers in a Single Document?
            Tomabcd Community Member
            Just looking for the easiest path. If I do a book, I have to manually chop up a source doc into chapters, it looks like I have to manually number the chapters if I keep it all in one file.

            Any other reasons to use a book vs. a single doc? I don't have a bias either way, just looking for least effort workflow.

            Thanks!

            Tom
            • 3. Re: Automatic Chapter Numbers in a Single Document?
              Community Member
              I prefer to keep each chapter as a separate file and use the book feature because I find it quicker and easer to navigate around in a single chapter than a whole book and because, if the file gets damaged or lost, I've lost only one chapter, not the whole thing. It also means I can keep my master pages and styles specific to the chapters (though with CS3's styles folders, this is not so much a concern).
              • 4. Re: Automatic Chapter Numbers in a Single Document?
                RodneyA Community Member
                There are a few reasons to keep the whole book in one file -- perhaps the final design isn't settled, and it's easier to change things like page size and style definitions in one file. And it's easier to do global searches in a single document. Although style definitions can be copied around after changes are made, there's opportunity for mistakes.

                That said, you can number chapters using auto-numbers; but not if you want to use the chapter-number variable in footers, figures, tables, etc. If you're getting that complicated, you're better off dividing the book into single chapter documents and linking them with a book file.

                Rodney
                • 5. Re: Automatic Chapter Numbers in a Single Document?
                  Community Member
                  I've never had problems synchronising files or searching across all book files, so they wouldn't be reasons for me to keep the text in one file (and, typically, if the design were still that unfinished, I wouldn't have bothered to place the text from the WP file), but they may be reason enough for Tom.
                  • 6. Re: Automatic Chapter Numbers in a Single Document?
                    M Blackburn Community Member
                    I too think a book with discrete sections and/or chapters calls for the book feature over the single file approach. (You might be surprised how easy it is to break up your file into chapters. Simply drag and drop entire chapters into a new file.)<br /><br />I also concur with Dominic re styles. Synchronising styles is just as straight forward as editing styles within a single document: both can be dangerous if done carelessly. <g> And now you can even synchronize master pages.<br /><br />I would question Rodney's assertion that searches are easier in a single document. Other than the necessity of having the documents open I don't see the difference.
                    • 7. Re: Automatic Chapter Numbers in a Single Document?
                      RodneyA Community Member
                      True, it's not that hard. But you do need to open all of the documents before you start, which, if there are a zillion of 'em, is a bit tedious.

                      Rodney
                      • 8. Re: Automatic Chapter Numbers in a Single Document?
                        Mr. Met Community Member
                        >But you do need to open all of the documents before you start, which, if there are a zillion of 'em, is a bit tedious.

                        A script would take care of this.
                        • 9. Re: Automatic Chapter Numbers in a Single Document?
                          M Blackburn Community Member
                          > A script would take care of this.<br /><br />You know, sometimes I think you scripters just have a one track mind <grin>. All you need to do is select the documents and double-click.<br /><br />And as for the book with a zillion documents, would anyone really want such a thing in one file? Such a file would be more likely to become corrupt than smaller files, and if it did you could lose everything. And smaller files are not just safer, they're generally easier to work in. Yes, there are perhaps some disadvantages, but in general the bigger the book the wiser it is to use the book feature. Not vice versa.