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• • October 14, 2013 at 11:44 am #65780
    Matt Mayerchak

    Participant

    I just discovered another hidden “gem” about importing Word’s .docx files into InDesign.

    I’m typesetting a long book, and unbeknownst to me, the editor used a lot of Nonbreaking Hyphens in the Word files. When I place this text into InDesign, if I place the .docx file, the Nonbreaking Hyphens disappear . . . they don’t come in as anything at all. So, “Self-Portrait” becomes “SelfPortrait”. If I save the file as a .doc file, they come in as normal hyphens. No codes visible in either case. I have tried this in both InDesign CS5 and InDesign CC, and it works the same way in both versions.

    So, the moral is, save your .docx file as a .doc file! And, editors, if you want a hyphen to be Nonbreaking, you need to tag it some other way, because it won’t come in when the file is placed.

  • October 14, 2013 at 12:15 pm #65781
    Matt Mayerchak

    Participant

    Oops! Just realized a mistake in my post above. To clarify: If you place a Word file with NonBreaking Hyphens as a .doc file, they DO come through as Nonbreaking Hypens (not normal hyphens). They don’t LOOK any different – you can’t see a code character for them. But if you search for them with Find/Change, you can find them.

    So, the problem only shows up if you place the .docx file. Editors can still use them in Word, but should save the file as a .doc file so you don’t lose them.

    • October 19, 2013 at 10:06 am #65882
      Britmark

      Participant

      Hey Matt

      I don’t think I would let a word doc within a hundred yards of InDesign on my setup. Just from the formatting viewpoint alone.

      It might be a little more time consuming, but to get your text into ID the way you want it, there is nothing better than good old Notepad.

      I just cannot seem to trust word – especially when there is formatting required.

      Just another opinion Matt.

  • October 19, 2013 at 12:00 pm #65883
    Anne-Marie Concepcion

    Member

    Britmark:

    https://www.lynda.com/course20/InDesign-tutorials/Using-Word-InDesign-Together/122930-2.html

    :D

    Though I didn’t cover the non-breaking hyphens issue here. I might add it to the FAQ though, Matt …thanks!

    AM

  • October 19, 2013 at 12:00 pm #65884
    Anne-Marie Concepcion

    Member

    Britmark:

    https://www.lynda.com/course20/InDesign-tutorials/Using-Word-InDesign-Together/122930-2.html

    :D

    Though I didn’t cover the non-breaking hyphens issue here. I might add it to the FAQ though, Matt …thanks!

    AM

  • October 20, 2013 at 8:14 am #65889
    Britmark

    Participant

    Hi Anne-Marie

    Thanks for the link. I did know that there are various ways of transferring WORD docs to ID to suit IDs method of styling.

    Being from the old school – I still have the very first InDesign program from back in the day, so to speak, but old habits die hard and the Notepad method I have found to be easier for me.

    Hey, I guess we could all refer to it as Plan B now. <hehe>

    Regards

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