Expert: James Fritz - 2/4/2011

Question
I am currently laying out a 4-500pp scientific journal. There are 40+ papers to be included. All have been produced individually for the authors to check using facing pages with left and right hand folios and are from 2pp long to 71pp long. As far as I can tell the drag and drop method of combining docs only works when the document setup is single pages. When I try with the facing pages it leaves blanks, i.e. if the document finishes with a right-hand-page (odd number) the new document that has been imported (dragged and dropped) also starts on a right-hand-side leaving a gap on the left. Is there a work around?

Answer
Pete,

I recommend that you use the book feature inside InDesign. Go to file > new > book. This will be a file that you save just like a regular InDesign file, so save it next to your other ID docs. The book that you created is basically a panel that lets you add other ID docs. Start adding them and they will be aware of the numbering of the preceding document. You can use the book to organize your entire journal and then output the document as 1 long PDF.