Adobe InDesign CS 2: The Trickle-Down Effect

When creating new master pages in Adobe InDesign CS 2, you can select Based on Master from within the Master Options dialog box. By using this feature, changes made to the "parent" master page trickle down to the "children," potentially saving you significant development time.

In the following scenario, you have already created a 3-column master page called A-3 Columns. Here are the steps you would take to duplicate A-3 Columns and use it as the "boss" of the other master pages.

1. Show the Pages palette (Window menu) and select the A-3 Columns master page
2. From the Pages palette fly-out menu, choose Duplicate Master Spread A-3 Columns

   There should now be two master pages: A-3 columns and A-3 columns copy.

3. On the Pages palette, double-click the text A-3 columns copy to select the duplicate master page
4. From the Pages palette fly-out menu, choose Master Options for A-3 columns copy

   The Master Options dialog box appears again.

5. Change the Prefix to B
6. Change the Name to 2 Columns
7. Select A-3 Columns from the Based on Master area

   Master page B-2 Columns will be “hooked” to master page A-3 Columns. Future changes you make to A-3 Columns will also appear on B-2 Columns. However, changes made to B-2 Columns will not affect A-3 Columns. The relationship between the two master pages is very much like a parent passing attributes to a child (A-3 Columns is the parent, B-2 Columns is the child).