InDesign How-To: Automate Chapter Headers (Video Tutorial)

In this InDesign “Three Minutes Max” video, Laurie Ruhlin shows how to automate numbered chapter headers. She then takes it a step further and explains how to feed chapter names into a running header (or footer).

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[closed captions/subtitles]

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[typegrrrl]

Sometimes using InDesign feels like magic. This was one of those moments. Thanks!

[tribikrambasnet]

Hello Creator, I have question this type of chapter number is not showing in Table of content how to fix the issue.

[mbt]

Excellent, thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for.

[jeansienkin]

Thank you so much! Before knowing this, I used to create one template per chapter!

[lovejko]

It's a very smart solution. Thank you.

[sarahrinzinbenson]

a million thanks!!! I've been trying for ever to do that! you rock...

[modhaffermodhaffer]

Indeed, these are InDesign secrets. Thanks for sharing. Please keep up the good work.

[KyleGilbertDesign]

This is excellent and very helpful! Wish I had known this years ago. :)

[jdosses]

This is great! There's always one more trick to learn

[JulieK]

This is great for when all text is in inter-laced text boxes, but here's my issue:
I'm making a recipe book where one double page is used per recipe. on the right page is a text box that should read 1. Recipe: (and then obviously on the next: 2. Recipe:, then 3. Recipe etc). Is it possible to set this up via paragraph style (maybe even on the master pages)? I've tried around for hours and searched for a way to simplify this without having to manually go to every double page and change the text accordingly.

[megs]

this ia a life changing video, thank you so much! I'm learning how to use indesign in order to lay out my university thesis, so it's super useful

[jamesgrubb]

Hi thanks for this. Question does this workflow require the document to be set up as part of an indesing book document?

[bluelindgren]

I do not know what has change since this video, but the chapter number is 1 every time a set a new chapter

[eduardoasta]

Thanks for that. In the 2nd part of your video, you put the chapter name on the foot. In my case, I'm putting on the pages sides. Indesign doesn't break the text in more than two lines. Do you know how to solve this?

[ColoradoCody]

For those who've commented that she talks too fast, did you know you can control video playback speed? Click the gear icon in the lower-right of the video (Settings) and set the Playback Speed to less than Normal.

[villov]

how can you add the chapter number to the running header?

[григорийНиколаев-кх]

Thanks? BUT it seems to work only while your text exists in one text box. It doesn't work if you use chapter names in separate boxes.

[dariabernabei]

it doesn´t seems to work as the chapters all show number 1 thorughout the book. Any new update?

[Exorbity]

You are actually creating a list style here. You are supposed to set the placeholder not as level 1, but as Chapter. The problem is then Indesign keeps displaying number one for the whole document. How to tell it where chapter 2, chapter 3, and so on start, seems to be the best-kept secret.

[horacerandallwilliams]

Followed the video and have the auto chapter numbering working; thank you. But when I include that paragraph style in Table of Contents styles, then generate the TOC, the auto chapter number does not appear in the TOC. I have examined TOC Styles and paragraph styles but don't spot what I am doing wrong.