How to automatically apply alternate Master pages in inDesign CS6?
How to automatically apply alternate Master pages in inDesign CS6?
Question
I have set up two different spreads as Master pages and I have to alternate between them as I add new pages I want the spreads to alternate A-B-A-B, cycling through about 200 pages.
Is there a quicker way to do this, than manually dragging?
Accepted Answer
Outside of scripting, there isn't an automated way to do this as you work (automatically alternate spreads). You can, however, make it go a lot faster than drag and drop.
In the Pages Panel flyout menu there is an option Duplicate Spreads. Your first step is to assign a keyboard shortcut to that command.
Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts....Select "Panel Menus" in the
Product Area:dropdown, and navigate toPages: Duplicate Spread.Choose a keyboard shortcut and type it into the shortcut field.
Save. You'll create a custom shortcut set, since you can't alter the default set. Call it "Aasim's Custom" or whatever you like.
Now you get to the semi-automated part:
Create two consecutive spreads using your A and B masters.
Shift-click on their thumbnails in the pages panel so both are selected.
Press your keyboard shortcut for "Duplicate Spread" as many times as you need.