InDesign

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Add comments and processing instructions

Using InDesign, you can include comments and processing instructions in an XML file. Enter a comment to include descriptive information about an element. Comments can be viewed in web browsers and text editors. They help others understand XML structure and XML tags. A processing instruction is a special, application-specific command. For example, you can enter a page-break processing instruction so that an application to which you export your XML file understands where to enter a page break. InDesign user-created processing instructions are meant for use in other programs; InDesign itself does not act on processing instructions.

Comments and processing instructions appear in the Structure pane. You can move, edit, and delete comments and processing instructions as you can other elements in the Structure pane. They cannot, however, contain child elements or attributes.

InDesign Structure pane with text snippets showing

A.
Processing instruction

B.
Comment

Add a comment

  1. Select the element about which you will comment.
    Note: To add a comment to a table, select a table cell element. You can add comments to table cells, not tables.
  2. Choose New Comment in the Structure pane menu.
  3. Type the comment in the New Comment dialog box.

Add a processing instruction

  1. Select an element for the processing instruction.
    Note: To add a processing instruction to a table, select a table cell element. You can add processing instructions to table cells, not tables.
  2. Choose New Processing Instruction in the Structure pane menu.
  3. For Target, enter a name that identifies the processing instruction to an application that reads exported XML files.
  4. For Data, enter a value that tells the application what to do with the processing instruction.

View comments and processing instructions

 Choose Show Comments or Show Processing Instructions in the Structure pane menu.

Edit comments and processing instructions

  1. Select the comment or processing instruction.
  2. Do any of the following:

    • Double-click the comment or processing instruction.

    • Choose Edit on the Structure pane menu.

  3. Edit the comment or processing instruction and click OK.