Duplicate page objects

Build 1501 on 14/Nov/2017  This topic last edited on: 13/Jan/2016, at 11:34

GN4 offers various methods to duplicate existing objects. For example, if you choose the duplication by the dialog box, you can specify the horizontal and vertical offset of the duplicate in respect to the original, the number of copies and the type of the duplicate object. In such way it is easy to create 200 horizontal rules, spread from the top to the bottom of the page, or 20 narrow text frames side-by-side, or a caption below the image

The duplication of objects on a page is the quickest way to create aligned objects off-grid.

You can duplicate as originals, or convert into a different type

•As originals: a duplicate is of the same type as the original object, e.g. a duplicate of a frame is a frame, a duplicate of a image is a image and so on (note: a linked frame is duplicated as an unlinked frame).

•Converted into a different type: a duplicate of a frame or of a image may be a box. A duplicate of a box or of an oval, may be a frame. A image may be duplicated as image or as contour. Rules are always duplicated as rules. The choice of the duplication type is by default available only in the duplication dialog box. All other methods duplicate as originals.

hmtoggle_plus1Quick duplicate

On the Tools menu, point to Duplicate, and then click Duplicate default.

Note

Quick duplication is object sensitive, i.e. it duplicates the objects depending on their type. In general, all the objects are duplicated right of the original, except horizontal rules: they are duplicated below. More details follows:

•A text frame, a box, an oval and a image are duplicated in the next column to the original.

•A vertical rule is duplicated next to the original, with the distance of 6pt.

•A horizontal rule is duplicated below the original, with the distance of 6pt.

•A linked frame is duplicated in the next column to the original, but the duplicate is not linked.

The quick duplication does not work with multiple selection. A dialog box is displayed instead, allowing to a GN4 user to choose the distance and the type of the duplication. Unlike default duplication by the dialog box, the quick duplication selects only the duplicate and not the originals. Quick duplication is based on an user definable VBScript ObjDuplicateDefault, stored in Fred4 User Scripts, and you can customize it.
hmtoggle_plus1Duplicate in predefined directions

On the Tools menu, point to Duplicate, and then click Duplicate Top, Right, Bottom or Left.
hmtoggle_plus1Duplicate as original

1.On the Tools menu, point to Duplicate, and then click Choose Duplicate.

2.In X, enter the horizontal offset for copies, and then in Y, enter the vertical offset.

3.In Repeat, enter the number of duplicates (default is 1).
hmtoggle_plus1Duplicating box and circles as text frames

1.On the Tools menu, point to Duplicate, and then click Choose Duplicate.

2.In X, enter the horizontal offset for copies, and then in Y, enter the vertical offset.

3.In Repeat, enter the number of duplicates (default is 1).

4.Check Convert box and circles in frames.
hmtoggle_plus1Duplicating frames and pictures as boxes

1.On the Tools menu, point to Duplicate, and then click Choose Duplicate.

2.In X, enter the horizontal offset for copies, and then in Y, enter the vertical offset.

3.In Repeat, enter the number of duplicates (default is 1).

4.Check Convert frames and images in boxes.
hmtoggle_plus1Duplicating text in a frame to curves

Select a frame with a text to be converted.

On the Type menu, point to Create Outlines, and then select what you want.

Select the original frame with the text and delete it.

You may convert the story in selected frame into curves. For each character a new shape is created, therefore it is possible to scale and color it separately. The text in original frame may be removed then.
hmtoggle_plus1Notes

•After duplicating of selected original(s), the duplicates are added to the selection. You may want to unselect all and then to select only the duplicate to perform other operations. Be aware that, if you try to move the objects immediately after a duplication, you will move the originals too.

•The duplicated group remains grouped.