Adobe InDesign: How to Split Threaded Text Frames

Recently, I was working on a massive booklet for my graduates. Students submitted content for the booklet, and they got one page each. However, I needed to import all of the content from Microsoft Word, and then split all of the text frames so they could be rearranged if need be.

Luckily, InDesign provides a way for us to do this in the sample scripts it provides.

You can either separate all of the text frames from the story, or you can use break one of the text frames. If you’re doing the former, you can select any of the frames of the story, but if you’re doing the latter make sure you choose the frame carefully.

Note: a story in Adobe InDesign means either a single unthreaded text frame, or a collection of threaded text frames.

First, we’re going to go to the “Window” menu, then find “Utilites” and “Scripts”.

Then, we’re going to go to “Application”, then “Samples, then “Javascript” to find these scripts.

Our scripts are in alphabetical order, so they’re easy to find. Double-click the script to run it.

Now, “SplitStory.jsx” will break the entire story into individual text frames. This is the script I needed for my project.

“BreakFrame.jsx” will isolate the one frame you have selected, and cut it from the story. All of the content will remain in that frame, but the text will thread from the frame before it to the frame after it.

So, this is how Break Frame will look: