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• • July 29, 2013 at 12:35 pm #34471
    propav8r

    Member

    I’m reposting a question from the Adobe discussion board to here in hopes of a better answer, or really an answer at all.

    I’m seeking input into what the best practice is for numbering images/figures that are placed inline in a document. I want these figures to have consecutive numbers and to move with the text as the text is edited.

    The crucial part is that I want to do this in a way that I can put a new figure into the document, and all the following figures will be renumbered automatically.

    I can do this if I use a different “Figures” master page that is applied to pages that contain ONLY figures and no text, but I can’t seem to figure out the best way to do it inline throughout the document.

    If I anchor objects inline, in the order that I want them to appear, the numbering works just fine, but as soon as I insert and anchor a new figure in the middle with automatic figure numbering, the newest anchored image becomes “Figure 1” and renumbers the entirety of the document.

    Now, as long as I have all my figures I want to use, and I insert and anchor those figures in the text in the order that I want them to be in, it works. I am using a paragraph style for figure numbers, and I have a dedicated list style for figure numbers.

    The issue is that as soon as an update to the manual occurs (a common occurrence in this manual) and I need to add a new figure (with a new figure number) halfway through the document, it numbers the new figure as Figure 1, and completely screws up the number formatting the rest of the way through.

    I’m trying to set it up right the first time, so it works correctly for years to come.

    Thanks!

  • July 29, 2013 at 12:45 pm #34472
    David Blatner

    Keymaster

    There are various ways to do this, but it usually comes down to paragraph numbering with the List feature:
    https://creativepro.com/figure-numbering-in-indesign-and-cross-references-to-them.php

  • July 29, 2013 at 12:49 pm #34473
    propav8r

    Member

    I’ve referred to that guide numerous times, and I’m still having the same basic issue: When I insert a new figure between existing figures 1 and 2, the new figure should become figure 2, and the former figure 2, become figure 3.

    It doesn’t.

    It changes the newly inserted figure to Figure 1, the old figure 1 to figure 2, and the old figure 2 to figure 3.

    Sorry…I’ve been dealing with this for several days and it’s becoming extremely frustrating. I don’t want to revert to the style of documentation that we’ve been using for years which is cluttered figure pages or graphics jammed in across the bottom of a page.

  • July 29, 2013 at 1:29 pm #34475
    David Blatner

    Keymaster

    Are these images actually inline? That is, are they anchored in the text frame? Or are they just floating on the page somewhere? If fig 1 and 2 are anchored, and then you just put a new fig 2 on the page (non-anchored), then I can see how it might mess up the numbering. But if the new fig is actually anchored in the text flow between 1 and 2, it absolutely should update the numbers properly.

    If the objects aren’t anchored, and you have more than one numbered fig on the same page, then I think the numbering gets based on the order in which the objects were created (not where they are on the page). Kind of crazy. One workaround: cutting and pasting the objects re-numbers them.

    • July 29, 2013 at 1:43 pm #34477
      propav8r

      Member

      Yeah, they are absolutely anchored. That’s the whole idea…I want my graphics to move with the text, not have to update figure page locations or anything else as stuff gets added.

      Funnily enough, the numbering works exactly as I want it to UNTIL the image is anchored. As soon as you anchor the image in the text flow, that’s when I’m having this issue.

      I’ve contacted Adobe support and they’ve escalated the ticket up the ladder…that was last week. We’ll see what happens.

  • July 30, 2013 at 7:57 am #34495
    propav8r

    Member

    And true, cutting and pasting would work but that’s an extremely tedious process…there has to be a better way.

    Here’s a thought-could I create a paragraph style for “Figure 1” that is always figure one, and create an paragraph style called “Figure 2” that could be applied to all following figures? That way, I always have a finite figure 1 label that doesn’t change.

    …off to try something new.

    Still haven’t heard anything out of Adobe support.

  • July 30, 2013 at 9:27 am #34503
    David Blatner

    Keymaster

    Hm. Something is certainly wrong, but I’m not sure what. This works fine for me.
    Can you download and open this IDML file:
    https://creativepro.com/downloads/FigureNumbering.idml

    If you anchor the image and the caption into the blank paragraph in the middle of the frame, do the numbers update properly?

    (You should be able to anchor the image and then cut and paste the caption. Or you can group the image and caption frames together, then anchor that group on empty paragraph.)

  • July 30, 2013 at 10:00 am #34505
    propav8r

    Member

    That document works perfectly. I even inserted and anchored a couple images of my own and it works. I’m going to delve into your list/paragraph style setup and see what’s different.

    Thanks so much for your help.

  • July 30, 2013 at 10:17 am #34508
    propav8r

    Member

    I cannot replicate your figure numbering paragraph style successfully. I can import the paragraph style from the document you sent, but in my document, it does not number anything, it just makes everything “Figure 1”, regardless of where or even if it is anchored.

    Edit// It works now, but I’m not sure why. I’ve got that document you sent backed up, and I can just import the style from that document each time I need to do this, but it still frustrates me that I don’t understand why it works.

    Eventually, I’ll learn not to ask questions.

  • July 30, 2013 at 12:37 pm #64572
    David Blatner

    Keymaster

    LOL! No, I think asking questions is good! We all have a lot to learn.

    Is the “Mode” pop-up menu set to Continue from Previous Number? (Or “Start At”?)

    Or perhaps you have more than one Level of numbering, and you have the Restart Numbers At This Level checkbox turned on?

  • July 30, 2013 at 2:33 pm #64578
    propav8r

    Member

    I started attempting to replicate your style in a blank document. Mode was set to continue. I only had one level of numbering.

    Next time I get some extra time, I’m going to give it another shot. Until then, I’ve got that document you sent “Fort Knox’d” so I can pull the style in whenever my little heart desires.

    Either that, or we need to get a priest out here to exorcise my copy of ID.

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