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Specific Table Formatting

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DevilishSmile

Technical User
Feb 8, 2007
5
NL
Well, I guess this is a hard one (at least it is for me)...

Situation:
I've got a pretty large table (about a thousand rows and 5 columns). No problem here with formatting the table. But I have a few pages in my InDesign document where I want to place two of these tables next to each other (so the columns will be half the size of the original on the other pages). I just can't find a way to make the columns smaller WITHOUT making them smaller on the other pages as well, because it's one large linked table.
My question:
Is there an "easy" way to format some parts of the table in a different way, without making different tables in Excel?

Thanks A LOT in advance....:)
 
Out of the box, no...since the table is one continuous table, just split into different text frames. There is a plugin that allows you to take linked text frames and break the links, leaving all the text in the current frames. I can't remember what it's called right now, but I'm wondering if you could do the same thing to linked tables. I assume you have the header running on all the tables? I wonder if the plugin works, if it will still retain the header row on each instance of the table?

I will continue to search for that plug in...I just saw it recently...I'll post the info when I find it...and I'll see if it even works for the tables.
 
That would be cool!

If I'm not wrong, I don't use headers. I use a seperate header that I copy for every page.

It would be cool if there's a tool/add-on that allows me to change the format of some parts of the table, without changing it to the rest of it.

Thanks in advance Ekwoman!
 
Success! I found it...it's a script, not a plug-in. It's from Dave Saunders, called DivideStory and it's here:
I was able to take a table, linked from frame to frame, even using a header row (which by the way is the way to go if you want the same header on each section...convert the first row in the first instance to a header row and you'll only need to enter it in one place and it appears throughout). Then, select the frame of the story you want to "break off." If you wanted to break all frames apart, this will take a while because it goes on a frame by frame basis. Also, if you had four linked frames and you click on #3, it will sever the link between #2 and #3...but #3 will still be linked to #4, so you'll have to break that link, too if you want to have #3 on it's own...and #2 and #4 won't be linked.

Still...it's pretty cool...and easy to use! Hope it helps with what you need.
 
Well, this must do I think! I'm not at the office right now, so I'll test it later this week or next week, but I'll let you know if it worked.
Anyway, THANKS A LOT for searching, helping and explaining (didn't know about the header-option either)!
Will let ya know!
 
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