How to Link to Text in InDesign

Link to text files rather than embedding them.

You can embed text into a document with InDesign's Place command, but if the text requires edits, the editing must be done in InDesign or the text will have to be replaced. By adjusting the preferences, you can specify that InDesign links to the text file. This creates a function similar to linked images, allowing you to edit the text in the word processing program and updating the link in InDesign.

Instructions

1. Open the document that you want to place the linked text in. Click on "Edit" and select "Preferences."

2. Click on "File Handling."

3. Click on the "Create Links When Placing Text And Spreadsheet Files" box.

4. Click on the "File" menu and select "Place."

5. Go to the document that contains the text you want to link to. The linked text will appear in the Link panel, and you can edit the text file in its default program, update or remove it.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to link text in any new document, close all InDesign documents, but do not close InDesign and perform the same process.

• When the text is updated in InDesign, any formatting performed in InDesign may be removed.

References

• Adobe InDesign CS5: Place (Import) Text
• Creative Curio: InDesign Project - Working with Text and Images; Lauren Marie; June 2008