InDesign How-To: Work With Snippets (Video Tutorial)

In this video, Mike Rankin demos InDesign snippets and shows off how to save and import them. Snippets are a great way to re-use InDesign elements, or to share those elements with others without having to rebuild anything.
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[@vincentwinqvist4023]

I've never created or placed snippets this way, though. Just drag an element from the page to a folder or your desktop, and it will become a snippet file there. Drag a snippet from a folder to your InDesign document, and you place it.

[@jmv68]

You're right. I just didn't show that because when you drag and drop you don't get the chance to name it, so in the end it never seemed more efficient to me than using Export.

[@vincentwinqvist4023]

@@jmv68 I use snippets for quickly sharing a single thing in the moment more than anything, so naming is a secondary concern. Regardless, using the export seems better for a tutorial.

[@arunb6184]

Does it work in InDesign cc2018?

[@CreativePro]

Absolutely! Snippets have been around for a very long time. -EG

[@Rajsinghvlog77]

Wow
This is really helpful

[@csinclaire1]

In an earlier Lynda video on this subject, it was mentioned that one can share actual sets of para and char styles, etc., as snippets. But it wasn't explained HOW to export just styles (without an actual design element carrying them). I'd like to know how to do that. Anyone?

[@CreativePro]

I don’t know of a way with snippets, but you can load styles from one file into another. In the new file, choose Load All Styles from either text style panel and then select just the styles you want to import from an existing file. -EG

[@csinclaire1]

@@CreativePro Thanks. I do know and have used the method you mention re loading styles from existing files. I wouldn't have thought styles could be saved via snippets, either, but in the Lynda.com video I watched, it was clearly spelled out that it was possible -- apparently, you can even save guides as snippets. Very interesting video. It implied you could save a whole set of styles as one snippet. But I can't find anything about how to go about it.

[@CreativePro]

You can save styles and such into a library (either legacy ID libraries or CC libraries). Maybe that’s what you’re thinking of?

[@harunerdali1443]

Thank you very much for that useful video. I have aquestion for that method; how can I reuse paragraphs in an interaction with each other. For example I create a paragraph and reuse it in another places of same and different documents, and whenever I make some changes in the master paragraph (or maybe in others) all other reused paragraphs will update themselves. Is that possible in indesign?

[@CreativePro]

Try the Content Collector tools. They are a little tricky, but might do what you need. helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/linked-content.html

[@harunerdali1443]

@@CreativePro Thank you very much for your support. :) It will help very much.

[@shaped-by-design]

A nice alternative for folks who can’t access cc libraries due to IT restrictions, thanks Mike!

[@douglasstefani]

Very useful! Thank you for showing

[@mordechailewis7201]

Thanks for the tip!

[@evans0110]

Yea I wished there was a preview of snippets and or double click on it to open. Otherwise you have to be descriptive in your file name.

[@CreativePro]

I never even realized that! A quick look preview would be nice! -EG

[@jabilson007]

I have been using snippets for a long time but the option tip is not something I knew about. Very helpful thank you.

[@CreativePro]

Glad it was helpful!