PDF (adobe.com)

Place multiple graphics

The Place command lets you import more than one item at a time.

  1. Create frames for the graphics if you want to place some or all of them in frames.
  2. Choose File > Place, and select files.

    You can select graphics files, text files, InDesign files, and other files you can add to InDesign documents.

  3. Optionally, select Show Import Options, click Open, and specify the import options for each file. (See Import options for graphics.)

    A thumbnail image of the first graphic you selected appears next to the loaded graphics icon. A number next to the loaded graphics icon tells you how many graphics are ready for importing. The names of the graphics appear in the Links panel, with the letters LP (for “loaded in place cursor”) next to the frontmost graphic.

    Placing four files into placeholder frames

    Press an arrow key to cycle through the graphics; press Esc to unload the frontmost graphic from the loaded graphics icon without placing it in InDesign.
    Note: You can keep thumbnail images from appearing in the loaded graphics icon if displaying the images slows down your computer. In the Interface area of the Preferences dialog box, deselect Show Thumbnails On Place.
  4. Do one of the following:

    • To import into a new frame, click the loaded graphics icon where you want the upper left corner of the graphic to appear.

    • To create a frame of a certain size and import the graphic into the frame, drag to define the frame. The frame conforms to the proportions of the graphic being placed.

    • To import into an existing frame, click the loaded graphics icon in the frame. Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) to replace the contents of an existing frame.

    • To import all the loaded graphics in a grid, hold down Ctrl+Shift (Windows) or Command+Shift (Mac OS) and click or drag. While still holding down the modifier keys and dragging, press the arrow keys to determine the number of rows and columns. Use the Up Arrow and Down Arrow keys to change the number of rows and the Left and Right arrow keys to change the number of columns. Use the Page Up and Page Down keys to change the spacing between frames.

    Note: You can load more graphics by choosing File > Place while the graphics icon is displayed.