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iskreto · 12-05-2006, 01:37 AM

Hi guys,

I need to create a master document for some catalogs containing large tables. Those will then be filled with text in different languages running in varying legth. Following problem occurs: In one column, I have a merged cell running over two or more rows. Wenn the text in this merged cell expands (if a language runs longer) the adjacent column extends in the last row of the rows beside the merged cell. I need it to extend in the first row though. Does anyone know how I can control this?

Please help, I'm really desperate ...

Regards,

iskreto

Dave Saunders · 12-05-2006, 03:36 AM

I think you need to explain your workflow a little more. Are you talking about populating these tables with a script of some kind? What course of events causes the change in the heights; presumably, you're not just typing into the cells in question.

Dave

iskreto · 12-05-2006, 04:23 AM

Dear Dave,

The texts of the catalog are transfered into xml data with InCatalog (and a specially delevoped tool), then translated and "filled" into InDesign again. Thus, it can happen that the foreign languages run longer and we have to adjust the foreign versions manually, which would be a tremendous effort on the amount of tables we have.

Regards,

Iskra

iamback · 12-05-2006, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iskreto

Thus, it can happen that the foreign languages run longer and we have to adjust the foreign versions manually, which would be a tremendous effort on the amount of tables we have.

English is one of the most compact languages (except maybe those in ideographic scripts like Chinese). This is a problem with UI internationalization, too.

Why not create the master document for the expected larger size? (I don't know InDesign but imagine a little shrinking will be easier than dealing with overflows.)

iskreto · 12-05-2006, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamback

English is one of the most compact languages (except maybe those in ideographic scripts like Chinese). This is a problem with UI internationalization, too.

Why not create the master document for the expected larger size? (I don't know InDesign but imagine a little shrinking will be easier than dealing with overflows.)

Well, this is a problem we are well acquainted with, however not an option here since we are working within a very tight CI.

Btw, here is an image of what I mean:

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l1...n179/Bild1.jpg

The arrows show the direction in which the text expands. All cells have variable height. Goal: The cell height in the magenta row has to extend in the first and fourth row (empty) - not third and sixth.

Mike · 12-05-2006, 11:34 PM

Can you merge the magenta cells and enter two lines of text with the vertical alignment set to bottom? If you need rules top and bottom in that column then achieve those using rules in the paragraph properties.

Sounds so simple I imagine I must not be understanding the problem properly.

iskreto · 12-05-2006, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

Can you merge the magenta cells and enter two lines of text with the vertical alignment set to bottom? If you need rules top and bottom in that column then achieve those using rules in the paragraph properties.

Sounds so simple I imagine I must not be understanding the problem properly.

In principle, that would do. But we need the table to be a real table in order for it to be displayed properly in xml, respestively the interface for translation. Apart from that, the example displays only one (magenta) column, but the rows actually run over 15-20 columns, so we cannot run the risk of messing up data.

roaryg · 12-06-2006, 08:53 AM

This is tricky for sure. I was able to get all the rows to stay the same size by fixing the row heights. However, then the merged cells won't expand automatically, I had to manually merge in the cell below. You may actually want to consider Mike's idea of using paragraph ruling lines above and below to set up your ruling -- ie. don't use the table to create the rules, just the structure. Let the paragraphs form the ruling lines. I think if you fix your paragraph leading and spacing your lines should come out evenly spaced throughout your table.

12-05-2006, 01:37 AM	#1
iskreto Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4	InDesign problem with merged cells in tables Hi guys, I need to create a master document for some catalogs containing large tables. Those will then be filled with text in different languages running in varying legth. Following problem occurs: In one column, I have a merged cell running over two or more rows. Wenn the text in this merged cell expands (if a language runs longer) the adjacent column extends in the last row of the rows beside the merged cell. I need it to extend in the first row though. Does anyone know how I can control this? Please help, I'm really desperate ... Regards, iskreto

12-05-2006, 11:34 PM	#6
Mike Staff Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Llanwrtyd Wells Posts: 1,450	Can you merge the magenta cells and enter two lines of text with the vertical alignment set to bottom? If you need rules top and bottom in that column then achieve those using rules in the paragraph properties. Sounds so simple I imagine I must not be understanding the problem properly. __________________ Mike www.welshframing.com

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12-05-2006, 03:36 AM	#2
Dave Saunders Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 103	I think you need to explain your workflow a little more. Are you talking about populating these tables with a script of some kind? What course of events causes the change in the heights; presumably, you're not just typing into the cells in question. Dave

12-05-2006, 04:23 AM	#3
iskreto Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4	Dear Dave, The texts of the catalog are transfered into xml data with InCatalog (and a specially delevoped tool), then translated and "filled" into InDesign again. Thus, it can happen that the foreign languages run longer and we have to adjust the foreign versions manually, which would be a tremendous effort on the amount of tables we have. Regards, Iskra

12-06-2006, 08:53 AM	#8
roaryg Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 176	This is tricky for sure. I was able to get all the rows to stay the same size by fixing the row heights. However, then the merged cells won't expand automatically, I had to manually merge in the cell below. You may actually want to consider Mike's idea of using paragraph ruling lines above and below to set up your ruling -- ie. don't use the table to create the rules, just the structure. Let the paragraphs form the ruling lines. I think if you fix your paragraph leading and spacing your lines should come out evenly spaced throughout your table.