Getting started with CtrlCrossTalk
CtrlCrossTalk lets copywriters, editors and art directors work in the same InDesign document without stepping on each other’s toes. The writer edits text in Adobe InCopy, while the art director keeps full control of the design in Adobe InDesign — all in a single file.
The Ctrl menu
- Check for updates…
- Register… — opens the CLM to license or trial the plugin.
- Help… — brings you to these support pages.
- Track Changes in Document — turns change tracking on or off for the current file.
- Accept All Changes in Document… — finalises all tracked changes.
- User… — assign yourself a name and colour.
- CrossTalk Preferences… — configure track-changes and user defaults (also reachable from InCopy/InDesign preferences).
Setting up
Assign yourself a user name and colour under User… before you start — if you skip this, changes default to red. In CrossTalk Preferences you can choose whether Track Changes is on by default in all documents or only in CrossTalk documents, and whether you’re prompted to pick a user every time you open a file.
Editing text in InDesign documents
Open a document made in InDesign in InCopy, and you’ll be asked whether to convert it to CrossTalk, then to choose (or create) a user. From there you can edit text in Galley, Story or Layout view. Layout view shows the real page layout, but only the text itself can be edited — not the design.
Editing in tables
Tables created with InDesign’s table tool can only be viewed and edited in Layout view.
Tracking and accepting changes
Turn on Track Changes in Document as soon as you start working — it’s easy to forget to switch it back on later. When a round of edits is finished, use Accept All Changes in Document… to lock everything in; a confirmation dialog appears first, since this can’t be undone.
Switching users and saving
To change who you’re editing as, open the User list, pick another name (or add a new one), and continue working. When you save, all changes and user information are stored in a single InDesign file — anyone else opening it later can see who changed what.
Need a hand? Contact our support team.