Same spot color places multiple times when I copy to new doc

[doodler22]

I'm working in 2 near-identical documents -- branding is different because it's 2 different companies, but content is the same. Each company uses it's own PMS colors. When I copy one frame with a spot color of PMS 293 into the other document, the PMS 293 gets listed every time I copy from the original doc into the new doc. I end with a list like this in my Swatches Palatte:
Pantone 293 C1
Pantone 293 C2
Pantone 293 C3
Pantone 293 C4
and so on....

I'm changing to 293 to Pantone Process Blue every time. I don't want the 293, but ID won't let me delete it. Why can't I? I'm stuck with the Pantone Process Blue (which I want) and a long list of 293 Cs that I don't want and can't delete.

I'm running ID CS (we're upgrading to CS 3 in 2008 and I can't wait!)

 

[eugenetyson]

Use the ink manager to map other colours to the same colour.

In help.

 

[doodler22]

That's what I've been doing, but it still keep all of those other colors listed in the Swatch panel.

 

[eugenetyson]

I think what's happening here is that the Pantone 293 is in your originally placed file/document/image. You need to have your original doc/file/image with the colour you want in it. The description is very vague as to what is happening and what you're doing, any more information? What are placing? What are you copying?

 

[doodler22]

I have a frame filled with PMS 293 with a rule around it - also 293. It's got a lot of black text in it. Rather than recreating this in a separte document because it's identical, I'm copying the entire frame into my new document. When I paste it into my new document, it add the color, PMS 293 C2. I then change that color to Pantone Process blue. But the next time, I copy another text frame from the original document (with PMS 293) into my new document, it pastes it in with PMS 293 C3. If I copy/paste another time, it's PMS 293 c4, then PMS 293 C5, etc. If I copy/paste 12 times, I get PMS 293 C12. Even thought I change every PMS 293 to my new Pantone Process Blue, I'm unable to delete every instance of PMS 293. I know I won't get the PMS 293 in my final document, it's just very annoying to have it listed in my swatches pallete 12 times.

 

[eugenetyson]

Try saving your file as an .inx file. File Export>InDesign Interchange.

Close your original document open the .inx file. That might sort the problem.

 

[eugenetyson]

Oh you're working with CS, I don't have a version of that. I tried to recreate with CS2 and CS3 but I couldn't achieve your result. This might be a problem with CS, I don't know though.

 

[doodler22]

It probably is a CS issue. I've had a few other strange things happen -- tabs palette going completely blank -- I just have to hold on a few more months then we're upgrading to CS3.

 

[doodler22]

Exporting as an inx file worked. When I reopened the inx file, I was able to delete the unneeded colors in the swatches palette.
Thanks!

 

[RegistrationMark]

Though I could not recreate your issue, I've noticed that whenever ID doesn't allow me to delete colors out of the swatch palette, it is because that color has been imported through the placemant of images or vector art. Also, if the color is used in some Paragraph or Character Style, you will not be able to delete them.
See your Preferences to check if you are importing text with all the original formatting.

Mark