Typophile

replace styles in large number of docs

joachim

"What is the quickest way to replace paragraph styles in a large number of InDesign documents?"

i've designed a large typeface family for a large client. they've had the beta version for a while, and already used it extensively.

we just installed the final version, which has its new final name, and partially renamed weight names too. opening their many files now, they get "missing fonts" alerts.

since it is their first custom font, they are understandably surprised, and frustrated that they might have to re-spec so many docs one by one. isn't there any way this process could be reduced / simplified / expedited, via macros, scripts, actions or such?

the team uses mostly mac OSX, but the rest of the corporation mainly windows XP (seems the only common platform for all international offices). their main softwares are InDesign, Keynote, PowerPoint.

thanks much for any help!

Florian Hardwig

Hi Joachim,
how you’re doing?

Yes, there might be a solution to your problem, at least as far as the InDesign documents are concerned:
Hans Haesler offers some terrific javascripts. You want his ‘SchriftenTausch’. The scripts can be downloaded free of charge from www.fachhefte.ch: choose your platform (OSX or Windows; D is the German version, F is French), and then your InDesign version. You’ll find SchriftenTausch.sit and SchriftenTauschDatei.sit. The files come with a Read-Me file that has instructions in German – I guess that’s just fine for you.

Cheers,
Florian

Igor Freiberger

In InDesign, the Book feature solves this.

Firstly, make a backup of all files (as they will be changed).

01. Edit the paragraph styles in one of the documents.
02. Create a book (File > New > Book). The Book panel will appear.
03. Include all files you need to change in this book (plus sign).
04. Set the changed document as origin of styles (icon at left).
05. Use the synchronize command from panel menu.

Sync will apply the same styles for all documents in the Book. The styles applied are those from the origin document. You can change sync option from the panel menu.

Be aware that Book would change page numeration of files you include in it. You can disable this option from the panel menu. You can also change page numeration back with a double-click in the page numbers shown in Book panel.

joachim

thank you so much, Florian!

great to know this resource now. i just spent a whole hour browsing through their pdf articles....

very best,
joachim

James Michaels

Are the final fonts absolutely identical to the betas except for the names?

If not, it would be a good idea to review each document after the change to make sure that there weren't any unintended consequences. For example, in InDesign the tiniest change to kerning, etc. might cause a line break somewhere to change, which might make a whole paragraph reflow, which might make a page break change, and suddenly one or more pages look screwy or have a text overflow.

Florian Hardwig

The procedure Igor (Freiberger) suggests is the way to go if all documents are set up properly and use styles with consistent naming. I assume this is hardly the case (‘large client’). The script catches any font specification, even if it was applied manually, without styles.

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