Adobe InDesign/insert line

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Expert: InDesign Pro - 3/13/2009


Question
Hi there,

I just want to insert a horizontal line in my ID file to visually separate sections. Is there a way to do this aside from just drawing a random line everytime with the line tool?

Thanks,

*Ashlee*

Answer

Using an Object Style
Hi Ashlee, thanks for the question.

Depending on how you're using the horizontal lines, there may be a few easy ways to apply them throughout your document––or at least make them a bit less of a hassle along the way.

First of all, if you're using the horizontal line between paragraphs of text, you can use a Paragraph Rule. I don't think this is what you're looking for, but I'll touch on it briefly incase it is. You access the Paragraph Rules options by clicking the fly-out menu of the Paragraph panel. Once you open the Paragraph Rules dialog box, you'll see many options and if you select Preview on the bottom left, you can see how your option choices affect the Rules as you go along.

Secondly, you can create a line Style if you're drawing the lines. You do this using the Object Styles panel. The easiest way it to get the line how you want it (colour, stroke, type, etc.), then make sure it's selected and click on the Create New Style icon at the bottom of the Object Styles panel. It will then create a new object style with those attributes. Once you do that, rename the style and apply it to the line you created. Another trick here is that if you have nothing in your document selected and you select the object style for the lines you created, will automatically be applied to all new lines you create with the line tool.

Lastly, I would take my lines with object styles and place them on a master page. If you're not familiar with master pages, they are a sort of "background" to every document page you apply them to. Open your Pages panel and select the A-Master Page. If you draw a line on this page, it will appear within the document on any page that has A-Master applied to it. If the lines aren't on the same place on every page, you can set up multiple Master pages, each with lines in their own location.

Keep in mind, Ashlee, that each one of these scenarios could be expanded on, but this will give you a start. If you get stuck along the way, please follow-up with more specific questions and I'll do my best to answer them.

Good luck!

Scott  

InDesign Pro

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