Expert: Roy Wilhelm - 4/30/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi Roy,

I am putting together a fairly large document in CS3 InDesign with several
layers per page. I want this document to be an "at-a-glance" type of resource
for the rest of my design team - I want it simple, easy & efficient.

Of course the layers all have different names, but my question is: HOW can I
(or is it even possible) to rename the already-numbered pages in the PAGE
window?

I would LOVELOVELOVE to be able to do that.  :-)

I am trying to avoid breaking up the file into 15 pieces - if I can rename the
pages everything would fall into place.

ANSWER: Sorry, no you can not name the pages. I'm guessing you're just trying to improve navigation within the InDesign document.

If so, I have a couple possible solutios but I first need to ask you something: Would a PDF generated from this InDesign document serve the same purpose? Or do you need the designers to actually work inside the InDesign document?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: First - THANKS for the fast reply!

Yes, you're right. I am trying to improve navigation within the InDesign
document. I need the designers to work inside the document (one ex: copy
grouped objects to paste in other documents). The text needs to be "live" -
editable within InDesign.

:::sigh:::  I'm really hoping that there's a way...somehow.  :-)

Thank you again,
Lyndi

Answer
I have two suggestions: One is to make a Table of Contents on Page 1 and then create headers and/or folios on each page. You can create the header or folio on the master page so it exists on every page. For example, you could run a header at the top of each page that says something like:
Subject A: p.1 | Subject B: p.2 | Subject C: p.3  ...

Second, if your document is extra huge, look into creating an interactive PDF. From the Adobe Help menu, search for Buttons, Bookmarks and Hyperlinks. With this option, you could create an interactive table of contents with clickable links. InDesign lets you point these links to specific pages within various InDesign documents. Crazy, I know, but if the document is super crazy and hard to navigate, this is a super great option. Another helpul feature is that it allows you to select the level of zoom you'd like on a page. For example, if a user opens the PDF Table of Contents and clicks "Flags of Asia" under a Page 2 heading, the PDF will launch the InDesign document and, if you have set it up to do so, zoom directly to the flags of Asia section of page 2.

Let me know if this was helpful. Option 1 is a lot less time-consuming but option 2 could be exactly what you need.

Roy